HAZARD'S REf 



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No. •1861,.. 

LIBRARY 

OF THE 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 



Alcove. 
Shelf. 



Class. 
Book. 




^.., 



HV 86 
.R5 
1851 
Copy 1 



uc 



l^ 



REPORT 



ON 



THE POOR AND INSANE 



IN 



EHODE-ISLAND; 



MADB to the general assembly at its JANUARY SESSION, 185L 



BY THOMAS R. HAZARD. 



PRINTED BY ORDER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 



PROVIDENCE: 

JOSEPH KNOWLES, STATE PRINTER- 

186L 



b 



^%^ 



\ 



^ 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Report, --_-____ 9 

(Queries addressed to Town Councils, - _ _ 9 

Asylum for the poor of the town of Newport, - 10 

Statistics of the poor of do do - - 10 

Replies to queries from do do - - 12 

Asylum for the poor of the town of Portsmouth, - 13 

Statistics of do do do - - 13 

Replies to queries from do do - - 13 

Asylum for the poor of the town of Middletown, - 14 

Coggeshall Joshua, letter in reply to queries, - - 14 

Asylum for the poor for the town of Little-Compton, 15 

Statistics of do do do do - - 15 

Wilber Otis, letter in reply to queries, - - - 16 

Poor of the town of New-Shoreham, - - - - 16 

Sheffield George G. letter relating to the poor, - 16 

Replies to queries received from New-Shoreham, - - 17 

Poor of the town of Jamestown, - - - - 17 

Carr George C. letter in answer to queries, - - 18 

Poor of the town of Tiverton, - - - - 19 

Statistics of the poor of do - - - - - 19 

Sheffield William P. letter in reply to queries, - - 20 

Poor of the town of Bristol, - - - - - 21 

Statistics of the poor of Bristol, - - - - 21 

Bullock N. letter received in answer to queries, - - 22 

Poor of the town of Warren, 23 

Statistics of the poor of Warren, - - - - 23 

Replies received in answer to queries, - - - 23 

Collins Haile, letter from, relative to the ' Campbell fund,' 24 

Poor of the town of Barrington, - - - - 25 

Poor of the city of Providence, - - - - - 25 

Statistics of the poor of Providence, - - - 25 

Burgess Thomas M. letter received in answer to queries, 28 

Dexter donation for the poor of the city of Providence, 29 

Tillinghast do do do do 30 



8 

Deaf mutes in the state of Rhode-Islandj - - 78 

State appropriation for the deaf and dumb and the blind, 79 
Weld Lewis, letter from superintendent American asylum, 79 
Howe S. G. letter from superintendent Perkins Institution, 82 
Caswell Oliver, well educated deaf and dumb and blind boy, 81 

State appropriation for the relief of the indigent insane, S2> 

Wade Willard, confined or chained thirty-three years, 83 

Dyer Elisha, Jr. - - - - - 84 

Taylor Otis, ----- 84 
Anthony Gov. dispenser of the fund for the indigent insane, 85 

Methods of keeping the public poor, - - 85 

Keepers of asylums, - - - - 89 
Extracts from rules and regulations of Portsmouth asylum, 91 

The insane, ----- 95 

Armstrong — , suffering case of insanity, - - 97 

Gibbs Rebecca, suffering case of insanity, - 97 

Dix Dorothea L. - - - - - 100 

Jenkins Anne A. - - . - 100 

Whitman William, the amiable insane man, - 101 

Albro Caroline, statement of, - - - 102 

Fales William R. the Portsmouth cripple, - - 103 

Idiotic, deaf and dumb, and blind, - - 105 

Tendency of insanity and other infirmities to pauperism, 106 

Proposed laws and amendments of laws, - 106 

Acts of Assembly relating to pauperism, - . 107 

Freebody Andrew, extract from the will of the late, 109 

Appendix, - - - - - 113 

Narragansett Indians, - - - - 113 

King Tom, the last Narragansett chief, - - 113 

Potter's Early History of the Narragansetts, ' 113 

Updike's History of the Narragansett Church, - 113 

Smith John, founder of Jamestown, - - 114 

Powhattan, the Indian chief, - - - 114 

Pocahontas, the Indian princess, - - 114 

Potter Elisha R. letter from, - - - 114 

Potter Elisha R. report of committee on Indian affairs, 115 

Act of distribution, - - - - 119 



EEPORT. 



To the General Assemhly of the State of Rhode-Island 
and Providence Plantations. 

The undersigned respectfully asks leave to report, that 
since his appointment by the Governor, under a resolu- 
tion of the legislature, to enquire into the condition of 
the public poor and the insane, in the State of Rhode-Island ; 
he has visited all the towns, with the exception of New Shore- 
ham, and has personally inspected the Asylums for the poor ; 
recording the names of all the inmates, together with such 
other items as he thought might be useful, either for pre- 
sent purposes or for future reference. He has also addressed 
copies of the following circular to the highest authorities of 
each town ; and as the replies received in answer to the que- 
ries throw much light on the subject of inquiry, he has thought 
it best to incorporate them substantially in this report, under 
the heads of the several towns to which they apply, (The 
following is a copy of the circular.) 

To the President of the Town Council, of the town of 

1st Q.uery. Has your town an Asylum for its pauper poor ; 
if so, how much land is attached thereto — what is the value 
of said land — and what is the cost or value of the whole es- 
tablishment, including buildings. 

2nd. What is the money value of its annual products. 

3rd. Vfhat salary is paid for the superintendence of the 
Asylum. 

4th. What amount is usually appropriated by the town, 
for the maintenance of the poor, in addition to the products 
of the Asylum. 

5th. If your town does not own an Asylum, what method 
is pursued in contracting for the maintenance of your poor. 

6th. What security for their good treatment does the 
town require of those who keep their paupers. 



10 

7th. What supervision is exercised by the town over the 
keepers of the poor. 

8th. What is the annual sum paid by the town for the 
support of its poor. 

9th. What is the average number of paupers in summer, 
also the number in winter, as near as may be. 

10th. Has any fund or legacy been given for the benefit 
of the poor in your town — if so, what is its amount and who 
are made its trustees by the giver. 

11th. What provision is made by the town for the educa- 
tion of its pauper children. 

12th. What provision is made by the town for medical 
attendance of the poor. 

13th. Are the public poor furnished with Bibles ; and 
what opportunities or facilities are provided to enable them 
to unite with their wealthier brethren in worshiping their 
Creator agreeably to the usages of the different sects of Christ- 
ians. 



NEWPORT. 

On the 5th of last seventh month, I visited the Newport 
Asylum and noted the following statistics. This Asylum is 
pleasantly situated on an Island containing about 80 acres. 
The building is large and substantial — is well arranged and 
furnished, and its affairs appear to be well conducted. 



o5 


a 






Where Born. 


.2 xp 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


o 




o 

fcJD 
<1 


H^ 




E3^ 
^ o 




^ 


t's 


w's 






c s 


65 


30 




Newport 


S 


Infirm and blind. 




L A 


36 


1 




ii 


M 


Disagreement with husband. 




P G 


80 


3/ 




u 


M 


Intemperance, (colored) 




M D 


17 




2 


Ireland 


S 


111 treatment of intcm. parents 




M B 


35 






England 


M 


Disagreement with husband. 




E R 


17 


12 




Newport 


s 


Imbecility of mind. 




J N 


60 






Ireland 


M 


Intemperance. 




H M 


61 




1 


Newport 


M 


a 




M R 


38 




25 


Scotland 


M 


Intemperate husband, 




H P 


45 


6 




Newport 


M 


a u 




E N 


88 


30 




C i 


s 


Insane for 30 years. 



'Have been or are now married. 



11 



M K 

T D 

A V 

J T 

E T 

G N 

H P 

R S 

B W 

C M 

R M 

J J 

J S 

W M 

J H 

E N 

W B 

P E 



D B 

B H 

C S 

S R 

J L 

J O 



S F 


34 


16 




C H 


51 


20 




N M 


74 


20 




C C 


37 


15 




J G 


70 


19 




B T 


82 


17 




M T 


65 


2 




E M 


37 




12 


B M 


17 


12 




A F 


36 


7 




R G 


58 


29 




M D 


33 


7 




N F 


83 


40 






32 


3 






71 


1 






54 


3 






56 


21 






52 


18 






27 


10 






46 


17 






80 


14 






66 


10 






60 


18 






74 


16 






67 


30 






52 


29 






42 


2 






75 


9 






80 


10 






59 




8 




93 


29 






70 


4 






72 


13 






61 








74 


21 






72 


18 






63 




1 




49 




4 




70 


4 






56 


8 






43 


3 






45 


7 






69 




21 



Newport 



England 

Ireland 

Newport 

Nova Scotia 
Newport 
Germany 
Ireland 

Mass. 
Newport 



Canada 
Newport 

Newport 
Warren 

S. Kingst'n 

France 

Newport 



England 
Newport 
Denmark 

Mass. 
Newport 



England 

Mass. 

Newport 



Insane, (cause) high temper 

and immorality. 
Insane — intem. and immor. 
impurity, (colored) 
hereditary; ins. 15y's 
disappointed affection, 
from youth. 
Loss of industrious husband. 
Intemperance. 
Ins. (cause) Heriditary. 

immorality ; ins. 9 y. 
disap. affec. 29 y ins. 
intemperance, 
unknown (colored) 



intemperance. 



unknown. 

being left exposed at 
sea; 21 years insane, 
[ns. (cause) fall from horse. 
'' '' infidel associates; 17 
years insane. 
Ins. (cause) unknown. 

' hered. & use opium. 



'^ 25 years insane. 
^' intemperance. 



" defrauded of property 
'' intem.; ins. 34 y's. 
^' " (colored) 
Intemperance. 



(colored) 



Old age and destitution. 
Imbecility of mind. 
Intemperance. 

Imbecility, caused by im- 
proper medical treatment. 
Intemperate children. 



12 

Total 30 males. 
24 females. 
16 children under 12 years of age. 

70 whole number at Asylum. 
Replies to Queries. 

1st. The town of Newport ownes about 80 acres of land; 
worth about ^TOOO, connected with an Asylum for their poor ; 
the whole, including buildings, is worth about $15,000. 

2d. The average annual value of the products of the 
Asylum, is about $1000. 

3d. The salary paid the superintendent is $325 per an- 
num, and provisions for his family. 

4th. In addition to the products of the Asylum, the town 
appropriates from $2500 to $3000 annually for the mainte- 
nance of their poor. 

6th. The establishment is under the immediate care of a 
Visiting Committee, chosen from the Board of Commissioners, 
who visit it once a week — a set of rules are also provided for 
its regulation. 

7th. The supervision of the establishment is delegated by 
the town to nine Commissioners, three of whom are chosen 
annually. 

9th. The average number of paupers is about 70 in sum- 
mer, and about 90 in winter. 

10th. The Overseer of the Poor distributes the rent of a 
lot of land containing about 7 acres, left by Mr. Freebody : 
and also the interest of $500 of the ^' Derby fund," to such 
poor persons as he may think proper — and the Commissioners 
of the Asylum distribute in the same way the dividends of 
one share in the New England Commercial Bank, left by the 
late Sarah Redwood. 

11th. A school is kept in the establishment, at present, by 
Mr. Moulton. 

12th. A Physician is annually appointed by the town, 
who visits the Asylum once a week, and oftener if needed. 

13th. A Sunday School Library has been given to the 
Asylum by a Sabbath School in Newport. Religious services 
by ministers and laymen of different denominations are per- 
formed in the Chapel of the establishment, every Sabbath 
morning. 



13 



PORTSMOUTH. 

The Asylum of this town is pleasantly, but inconveniently 
situated, being quite a distance from any open road. The ar- 
rangements seem well calculated to promote the comfort of 
the poor, and, to a stranger, it appears to be well conducted. 
The following table shews its inmates on the 30th of last 
ninth month, at which time I visited it. 



CO 

O 








Wliere Born. 


o 

O fcJO 
U CO 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


1 S 


t's 


w's 


i ! 

1 


J B 




81 


3 




Portsmouth 


M 


Blind for 40 years. 


J A 




80 


7 




u 


M 


Old age. 


JM S 


60 


20 






M 


Insane, is now chained and 


M S 


70 


25 




Portsmouth 


M 


has been for many years. 
Insane. 


B I 


47 


4 




u 


M 


u 




E E 


80 


9 




ii 


S 






C A 


64 






u 


S 


Rheumatism. 




E I 


30 


30 




li 


s 


Idiotic. 




A I 


45 


4 




Newport 


M 


Imbecile in mind and dim 




H S 


15 




1 


u 


S 


sighted. 


J A 
B B 




58 
49 


3 

10 




Portsmouth 


s 
s 


Imbecility of mind. 

it a 


G B 




51 


1 




u 


M 






M T 


40 


40 




iC 


s 


Idiotic. 



6 males. 

8 females. 

1 boy 7 years of age. 

15 Total. 

Replies to Queries. 

1st. There are about sixty acres of land, worth $4,000, 
connected with the Portsmouth Asylum for the poor : the 
whole establishment, including buildings, is worth about 
$5,000. 

2d. Do not know the money value of its products. 

3d. The keeper's salary is $200 per annum. 

4th. For the year 1849, the expense of the poor was about 
$30, in addition to the products of the farm. 



14 

6th. The Asylum is conducted under the direction of 
three Commissioners, who give no securit^r for their behavior. 

7th. The supervision of the Asylum is delegated by the 
town to the Commissioners. 

8th. Do not know what is the annual sum paid by the 
town for the support of their poor. 

9th. Fifteen has been the average number of paupers for 
the last tVN/'O or three years, summer and winter. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given to the poor in 
Portsmouth. 

11th. The pauper children go to the district school, under 
the direction of the Commissioners. 

12th. Dr. Keith is hired by the Town Council to attend 
on the poor for §12 per year. 

13th. No Bibles have been furnished the poor by the 
town. I understand that Bibles have been given to such of 
the poor as know how to use them, by individuals. Public 
religious meetings are held at the Asylum occasionally. 



MIDDLETOWN. 

The Asylum of this town is well situated on the main road. 
At the date of my visit, the 5th of 11th month last, there 
were but two children in it that were supported by the town, 
both of whom were under seven years of age. I. P., 78 years 
of age, a male pauper, was at that time boarded by the town 
of Middletown at the Newport Asylum : he has been on the 
town about forty years. He has been married, and is a na- 
tive of Middletown, as are also the two children above men- 
tioned. The following is a copy of a letter received in reply 
to queries : — 

Middletown, Dec. 24th, 1850. 

This town has a small house and one acre of ground which 
is occupied and improved by a family, who contract to board 
such of the poor as the overseers may think proper. A part 
of the poor of our town receive pensions and live with their 
friends or relatives. The Town Council are the Overseers of 
the Poor, 

The town receives an annuity of $40, given by the late 
Andrew Freebody, for the relief of the poor. The Over= 
seers are the trustees of the same. 



15 



Three paupers are supported wholly", and five partly, by the 
town. 

The person who occupies the house enters into a writ- 
ten obligation for the faithful performance of his contract and 
good treatment of the poor. 

The Overseers, as often as once a month, visit the paupers 
and inspect into their fare and treatment. 

The pauper children are sent to the district school with 
other children, belonging to the district. 

Physicians attend and provide for the sick paupers — such 
of the paupers as are disposed to, attend public worship in the 
meeting house in the neighborhood. The paupers have Bi- 
bles. 

About §400 was paid for the support of the poor the past 
year. All of which is respectfully submitted by order and iu 
behalf of the Town Council. 

JOSHUA COGGESHALL, Council Clerk. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



LITTLE COMPTON. 

The Asylum of this town is pleasantly situated, (though 
perhaps too far from the main road) and well arranged for the 
comfort of the poor, and things have a respectable and com- 
fortable appearance in the house. The date of my visit was 
10th of twelfth month last ; when I took the following notes. 



02 
O 


1 


< 


.S g 

T'SJW'S 


Where Born. 


'o 


Cause of Foverty, and remarks. 


S G 
A B 


s w 


79 
67 

47 


12 

2 
7 




Newport 
L. Compton 


M 

M 
S 


Intemperance. 
Loss of property. 
Ill health. 


W S 


M D 


80 
63 


11 

20 




Mass. 


s 
s 


Old age and poverty. 
Imbecility of mind. 




R B 
P C 


47 
66 


10 
12 




L. Compton 


s 

M 


Immorality. 
Ill health. 


I c 

W B 
T W 
T E 


A H 


42 
35 

44 
45 

57 


29 
b 
1 
1 

4 




Newport 
L. Compton 

Newport 
Charlesto'n 


s 

s 
s 
s 
s 


Immorality. 
Imbecility of mind. 
Intemperance. 

Imbecility of mind. 



16 

7 males, 

5 females, 

1 boy, 10 years old. 

13 total. 

Little Compton, Oct. 1, 1850. 

I received yours yesterday and hasten to answer it by the 
request of the President of the Town Council. 

1st. The town of Little Compton own an Asylum to 
which is attached 65 acres of land worth $3000. The whole 
establishment including buildings, is worth $4000. 

2d. The annual value of its products is $550. 

3d. The keeper's salary is $200. 

4th. The town appropriates annually $500, in addition to 
the products of the Asylum, for its maintenance. 

9th. Our population is almost wholly native, and the num- 
ber of our paupers is consequently about the same in winter 
as in summer — average, 14. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given for the benefit of 
our poor. 

11th. We seldom have pauper children — but when we do, 
they have the privilege of the district school, the same as 
other children. 

12th. They have the usual Physician at the Asylum when 
sick as others. 

13th. Those who are able usually attend some place of 
worship on the Sabbath — and a religious meeting attended by 
a clergyman has been held at the Asylum weekly or semi- 
weekly for a long time. Yours respectfully, 

OTIS WILBOR, Coimcil Clerk. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



NEW SHOREHAM. 

It not being convenient to visit this Island town, I address- 
ed a letter of inquiry to one of its residents, in whom I felt 
much confidence, and received from him the following reply. 

New Shoreham, Sept. 23d, 1850. 

Yours of the 9th inst., duly came to hand, requesting me 
to give you a statement of the poor of our town — and how 



17 

they are provided for. We have at present two male paupers, 
the one aged 83, the other 59 years — also four female pau- 
pers whose several ages are 92, 46, 42 and 41 years. They 
are let at auction to be well clothed and provided for, under 
the direction of a Committee, who visit them once a month 
to ascertain their treatment. The compensation we pay this 
year for keeping our poor is $198, and we pay our physician 
$25 per year to attend them. The health of our paupers is 
as good as is usual for people of their age. A part of them 
have been chargeable to the town for about twenty years. 
One of them for two years only. They are all white persons. 
They are all sane, with the exception of the aged female, 
who is now childish. They have always been single. 
Yours with great respect, 

GEORGE G. SHEFFIELD. 
To T. R. Hazard. 

The following reply has been received to queries : — 

1st. The town of New Shoreham has no Asylum for their 
poor. 

5th. Our poor are boarded out. 

6th. The pay for boarding our poor is forfeited, in case 
that they are not properly treated. 

7th. The poor are under the superintendence of a Com- 
mittee. 

8th. The annual sum paid by the town for the support of 
their poor, is $169 25 cents. 

9th. Five is the average number of our paupers. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given for the benefit of 
the poor in our town. 

11th. Our pauper children can attend the public schools. 

12th. A physician is employed by the town to attend on 
the poor. 

13th. Our paupers have the privilege of attending meet- 
ings with the other inhabitants of the Island. 



JAMESTOWN. 

I visited this town on the 29th of 7th month last, and un- 
derstood that by a vote of the town its poor had been placed 
at board with the keeper of the poor in South Kingstown, 
3 



18 

to which place, three of them had been removed, whilst three 
others remained on the island with friends or connexions. 
These three were all insane females ; one of them, H. A., 
resided with her parents, who received from the town one 
dollar per week for her board. She is 38 years of age and has 
been insane about twenty-three years. One other, H. A., 
about 50 years of age, has been insane eight years, and then 
lived with the former keeper of the poor, who received no 
compensation other than her services for her mainten- 
ance. One other woman, of about 75 years of age, who had 
been insane about thirty years, lives with a married daughter, 
who is paid nothing by the town for her support, but is al- 
lowed by relations ninety-six cents per week for boarding her 
mother. On the next day, I visited the poor in South Kings- 
town, where I saw two of the three that had been placed at 
board with the keeper, by the town of Jamestown. One had 
died since her removal. The two remaining, were P. W., a 
female of 70 years of age, very insane, and a colored woman, 
P. H., of 50 years of age, who has also since died. The fol- 
lowing letter was received in answer to queries : — 

Jamestown, Oct. 10th, 1850. 

Your communication of the 27th of September, containing 
certain inquiries in relation to the public poor of the town of 
Jamestown, should have been sooner answered had it been 
practicable for me to have done so, but other engagements 
have prevented. I will now proceed to answer them. 

1st. The town of Jamestown has no Asylum for the poor. 

5th. The method practised for the last four years, has been 
for the overseers to advertise for proposals for keeping the 
poor from year to year. 

6th. It has not been the practice of our town to take any 
security other than a written agreement for the keeping of 
the poor. 

7th. The town exercises no supervision over their poor, 
other than through the overseers, who visit at their dis- 
cretion. 

8th. For the last three years, the annual sum appropriated 
by the town for the support of its poor, has been about $350 ; 



19 



for the last fiscal year, ending April Ist, 1850, it was however, 
about $408. 

9th. The average number of our paupers last year was 
six — four of whom were insane — for the previous three years, 
it had been five ; no variation in winter or summer. 

10th. A legacy was given to the poor of this town by the 
late Andrew Preebody, in trust with the overseers of the poor. 

llth. There has been no children supported by the town 
of Jamestow^n for the last ten years. 

12th. Our town makes no provision for medical attendance 
of the poor, it is left with the overseers. 

13th. No Bibles are furnished by the town for the poor, 
and no facilities are provided to enable them to worship God, 
other than what are provided by their keeper. 

Your friend, 

GEO. C. CARR. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



TIVERTON. 

The Asylum of this town is roomy and well situated on the 
public road. The inmates appeared pretty comfortable, though 
some complaints were made. The following were a list of its 
pauper inmates on the 10th of last month, the date of my visit. 





i 
1 


<6 

fcJD 

< 


H 
t's 


CO 

< 


Where Bom, 


o 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 




J M 


32 




12 


Tiverton 


M 


Intemperate husband. (4 
children with her. ) 


F L 
S G 




65 

50 


6 

1 






M 

S 


Intemperance. 
Ill health. 


J E 


B L 


75 
72 
30 


4 

20 
30 






M 

s 

S 


Intemperance, (colored) 

Paralytic. 

Imbecility of mind. 


\Y F 


E H 


55 

18 


3 


16 




M 

s 


Intemperance. 
Immorality. 



4 males. 

4 females. 

6 children under 12 years of age. 



14 total. 



20 

The following letter was received in answer to queries : 

Fall River, Dec. 12, 1850. 
Herewith, I forward to you answers to your several inter- 
rogatories. The delay in furnishing them, has been occasion- 
ed partly by my absence from home and partly by the dif- 
ficulties attending the arrival at the facts inquired about. 
Yours very respectfully, 

W. P. SHEFFIELD. 

To T. R. Haz^ard. 

To your first question, I answer— The town of Tiverton 
has a farm and buildings sufficiently capacious to accommo-* 
date their poor. The farm contains one hundred and thirty 
acres. It is worth six thousand dollars. 

2d. — It is difficult to fix the exact income, as it must ne- 
cessarily vary with the price of the products. It produces two 
hundred bushels of corn, two hundred bushels of oats, two 
hundred bushels of potatoes, with other culinary vegetables 
sufficient for the consumption of the family, (say) in all, not 
including stock or hay, $500. 

3d. — The salary of the keeper is $200 and board of his 
family. 

6th and 7th. — -Two persons are annully chosen by the town 
to oversee and superintend the establishment, with full au- 
thority to direct in the management of the farm and to con- 
trol the keeper in all things incident to his duties. 

8th. — -In addition to the products of the fai'm and the salary 
of the keeper, the town pays such orders as are drawn in fa-^ 
vor of the keeper for the contingent expenses of the Asy- 
lum by the town council, who are the overseers of the poor^ 
and such orders as are drawn in favor of persons who are 
able to obtain a partial support for themselves. Those orders 
during the last year, amounted to $286 41-100. 

9th. — -The average number of our paupers is, fifteen in sum- 
mer, eighteen in winter. 

10th. — 'No fund or legacy has been given to the poor of our 
town. 

11th. — Our pauper children have access to the districS 
school, the same as other children in the district. 



21 



12th. — The town employs a physician at a fixed salary to 
attend on the poor. 

13th.— I think that the poor are not furnished with Bibles. 
There is a Congregational Church in the neighborhood^ and 
the poor can attend whenever they choose to do so. 



BRISTOL. 

The Asylum of this town is conveniently situated on the 
road ; is substantially built, and well arranged, and appears 
to be well conducted. On the 2nd day, 9th month last, the 
date of my visit, it contained the following pauper inmates. 









^B \ 1 


o 




1 


1 




Time 

Asylu 


Where Born. 


2 '^ 

Si 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


s 


y' s w's 




J D 




66 


1 


:Bristol 


M 


Intemperance. 


A E 




75 


5 




a 


M 


" 


D C 




54 


29 




Portsmouth 


S 


Insane, caused by a fall when 
young. 


J W 




70 


15 




Bristol 


s 


Insane, (partially. ) 


S 




50 




12 


u. 


s 


ii ii 


G W 




84 


9 




ii 


M 


Intemperance. 




P S 


66 


15 




ii 


S 


Improvidence. 




S B 


65 


10 




iC 


s 


Distress of mind & lameness. 




M C 


50 


1 




ii 


s 


Insane. 




B T 


85 


2 




ii 


M 


Old Age. 




P H 


23 


2 




ii 


s 


Immorality, (colored) 



6 males. 

5 females. 

4 children under 12 years of age, 

15 total. 

The following letter has been received in reply to queries. 

Bristol, Oct. 16th, 1850. 

In reply to your circular of the 27th ult., I submit the fol- 
lowing answer, viz :— - 

That Bristol has provided an Asylum for her paupers, say 
30 acres of land, purchased by the town about thirty years 
since, for $2500, and have erected a spacious dwelling house 
and other fixtures proper for a farm and the accommodation 



m 

of the inmateSj at an expense of $3500. This estate would 
now bring probably, $5000. As to its annual products, as 
they are mostly consumed by the inmates and the Overseer's 
family, it is impossible to estimate them with precision ; per- 
haps they might average, one year with another, $700. The 
superintendent receive a salary of $200 besides the board of 
himself and family. 

There has been an appropriation by the town of $500 year- 
ly, (or about that sum,) for the support of the Asylum and 
for repairs on the buildings, exclusive of the above expenses. 
We pay out, also, to pensioners, who are partially supported 
by the town, but reside among their connexions, who assist 
these pensioners themselves in their support, about $400 per 
annum. These two appropriations are respectively $500 and 
$400 ; but sometimes these amounts will be exceeded, and 
at other times the appropriations will not be wholly absorbed 
by the expenditure. The average however, will not vary 
much from the sums named. 

The supervision of paupers at the Asylum is committed to 
a board of Commissioners, one of whom visits the Asylum at 
least once a week. 

Usually we have from 12 to 15 paupers in the establish- 
ment and about an equal number of pensioners out of it. In 
winter our pensioners are increased by the allov/ance of bread 
and fuel only. 

' No legacy has ever been given for the support or the assis- 
tance of our paupers. There is a school house at which a 
good school is kept the year round, located on the Asylum 
farm, where our pauper children have the same opportunity to 
acquire a useful education as other children in the vicinity. 
A physician has always been engaged to attend on the sick at 
the Asylum, ^whenever the superintendent deemed it necessa- 
ry. There is no want of Bibles or tracts, or other religious 
books, at the Asylum : all are supplied who will read. The 
inmates have full liberty to attend public worship in the vil- 
lage on Sundays, when and wherever the]/ choose : and be- 
sides, there is preaching occasionally at the Asylum for the 
benefit of invalids. Respectfully yours, &c., 

N. BULLOCK. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



23 



WARREN. 

The Asylum of this town is comfortable in appearance, and 
well arranged — it is, however, illy situated for public inspec- 
tion, being far from the road. On the 2d of 9th month last, 
the date of my visit, it contained the following pauper inmates. 









"§ g 




u 




s 


J 






Where Bom. 




Cause of Poverty, and remark?. 


f^ 


g 


c3 


Jl^ 








1 


s 


^ 


t's 


w's 




^ 






M C 


84 


4 




Providence 


M 


Ill health & loss of husband. 


W J 




93 


12 




N. York. 


M 


Old age. (colored.) 




A B 


50 






Warren 


S 


Imbecility of mind. 




E M 


45 


10 




Mass. 


M 


Insane, (was then chained 
and had been most of the 
time for 4 years or more. ) 




B C 


45 


10 




Warren 


M 


Insane, (was then chained 
and had been most of the 
time for 4 years or more.) 




W B 


33 


6 








S 


Insane, (chained at times) 




R B 


74 


20 








M 


(for 30 years.) 


R C 




76 


5 






s 


Imbecility of mind. 


E C 




70 


111 






M 


Insane. 


H B 




53 


i 






S 


Cripple. 


J M 


36 


10 






s 






L U 


74 


16 






M 111 health. 




P L 


13 








s Orphan. 




S S 


79 










M 


Ill health. 



5 males. 
9 females. 



14 total. 

The following reply was received to queries. 

1st. This town has an Asylum. The buildings are worth 
|4000. 70 acres of land, |4000. 

2d. Its annual products are worth, (say) $1000. 

3d. The keeper's salary is S200. 

4th. There is drawn for the support of the poor annually, 
$350 from the town treasury. 

9th. Average number of our paupers is 14 in summer and 
17 in winter. 

10th. A fund of $5500, called the Campbell fund, is held 
in trust, by John T. Child, George W. Case, and Seth Peck, 
for indigent children. 



24 

12th. Overseers of the poor, are chosen annually accord- 
ing to law, who are also by vote of the town, made '- ex-qffi- 
M^ Commissioners of the Asylum, whose duty is to super- 
vise all matters relating to the Asylum and support of the 
poor. 

Since the reading of this report to the General Assembly, 
the following letter and explanation of the objects and origin 
of the Cambell Fund, has been handed to me for insertion. 

Warren, Jan, 28th, 1851. 

Enclosed you will find a short history of the life and char- 
acter of Nicholas Cambell, together with the origin of the 
fund, (called the Cambell fund) from which you can extract 
such portions as you may deem proper to be published in your 
report. Respectfully yours, &c., 

HAILE COLLINS. 

To T. R. Hazard. 

Nicholas Cambell came to this country from Malta, before 
the Revolutionary war, and died in this town. The follow- 
ing is an extract from his will : " Lastly, my will is that the 
residue of my estate, of whatsoever nature and description, 
after paying the aforesaid legacies, shall be by executors 
placed in some public funds, the interest whereof to be ap- 
propriated to the schooling of indigent children, both male 
and female, of the town of Warren, and for other charitable 
purposes. 

My will furthermore is, that the interest of the aforesaid 
fund be managed and applied by my executors, and at the de- 
cease of either of them, it is my design that another be 
chosen by the survivors, and in like manner, should any de- 
cline the management of this fund, those whosoever, may 
choose others to keep the number good, and continue in this 
way forever. 

And I hereby appoint Wm. Carr, Allen Sloan, and Seth 
Peck, executors to this my last will and testament." 

Signed, NICHOLAS + CAMBELL. 

Dated, November 1, 1821. 

Proved, September 7, 1829. 



25 

Amount of fund, — one hundred shares, stock in Warren 
Bank, vakied at $5500. 

Fifty children are kept constantly at school, and of a class 
who are too young to attend the town public schools. These, 
are furnished with books, which we are authorized to furnish 
under that clause of the will, " other charitable purposes." 



Signed. JOHN T. CHILD. 



Warreii^ Jan. 27, 1851. 



BARRINGTON. 

Visited this town, but could hear of no poor or poor house 
in it. I find, however, by the reply that I have, received to 
the circular, that the treasury of Barrington is taxed annually, 
to the extent of $50, for the support of one pauper, only. 



PROYIDENCE. 

Yisited the Dexter Asylum, in this city, 9th month 3d. It 
is a fine and substantial building, and is apparently well 
arranged and conducted. The following list of its inrnates, 
was kindly furnished me by its superintendent, (Mr. Chapin,) 
a day or two after my visit to the institution. 





j 
^ Time at 




o 




t/ 


^ Asylum. 


Where 




Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


d 


S S) 


Born. 


u-^ 




^^ 


O; Oi) ■ . 


m'sid's 




^ 






M D 20 


122 


Ireland 


s Immorality. 




H Fio2 


1 


4 


21 




s Partially insane. 




E g20 


1 


10 


17 


Ireland 


s Intemperate. 




c s 


56 


3 


2 


8 


a 


M 


Blind. 




E S 


25 




6 


11 


u 


s 






R W 


50 


13 




3 




9 


Insane for many years. 




M S 


37 


7 


7 


27 


Ireland 


s Intemperate. 




s s 


68 


7 


3 


25 




s Lame and sickly. 


J F 


38 


11 


10 


1 




s Palsy and friendless. 


M M 


17 




5 


10 


Ireland 


s Intemperate. 


C T 


36 


2 


4 


11 


u 


M ' " 


P B 


55 


20 








s 1 Feeble and friendless. 


M W 


26 




2 


1 


Ireland 


s ; Immoral. 


.'M M 


* 




5 


16 


u 


Mother in Asylum. 














■^ 


I.nfavi 


ts. 



26 



S G 


15 




1 


12 


H A 


63 


4 


10 


3 


M B 


42 


1 




22 


M R 


23 




6 


4 


A C 


35 




2 


27 


I D 


28 




2 


7 


S K 


23 






12 


M K 


* 






12 


M S 


34 






16 


A S 


3 






16^ 


L B 


18 






^1 


R G 


26 






5 


R G 


* 






5 


B C 


30 






5 


T C 


* 






5 


RL 


22 


3 


4 


15 


J H 


8 


2 


5 


27 


E E 


4 


1 


11 


28 


G S 


7 




11 


22, 


S B 


6 


1 


7 


17 


s c 


6 


5 


6 


8 


A C 


4 




2 


27 


M D 


6 




2 


7 


L T 


60 


19 


5 




P S 


70 


11 


7 


5 


B W 


52 


1 


10 


4 


A G 


30 


7 




1 


H C 


28 


5 


6 


8 


E C 


# 




7 


21 


G B 


2 


1 


4 


21 


C L 


3 


2 


9 


4 


M G 


52 


6 


7 


4 


M C 


20 




7 


24 


M C 


# 








M P 


20 




3 


21 


A P 


# 








V J 


80 


4 


7 


6 


M S 


9 






16 


U F 


52 


16 


9 


16 


M C 


36 




1 


13 


H H 


20 




1 


10 


J M 


30 




2 


12 


A H 


32 


1 


7 


23 


M R 


93 


1 


3 


18 




74 


1 


9 


4 


J E 


25 


1 


11 


28 



Ireland 


s 




s 


Ireland 


M 1 


a 


S 


li 


M 


a 


M 


a 


s 


a 


; 


" 


M 



5 Ireland 



Ireland 



Ireland 



Ireland 

a 

Ireland 
Ireland 

Ireland 



Unprincipled. 

Partially insane. 
Blind. 

Partially insane. 
Intemperate. 



(feeble) 
(sickly) 



Infant with her. 
jMother in the Asylum. 
Deserted by husband, child 

with her. 
Deserted by father. 
Sickness and immorality. 
Friendless, infant with her. 
Mother in asylum. 
Intemperate, infant with her. 
Deserted by father. 
Bad character. 
Desert, by parents, (at school ) 

a a u 

Intemperate parents. " 

Mother in asylum. " 
Intemperate mother. " 

Old age and lame. 

Sickly and bad husband. 

Deserted by husband. 

Partially insane. 

Immor. 2 children with her. 

Mother in asylum. 

Deserted by parents. 

Bad mother. 

[ntemperate and lame. 

Deserted by husband. 

Mother in asylum. 

Partially ins. infant with her. 

Mother in asylum. 

Old age and lame. 

Deserted by father. 

Partially insane and lame. 

Intemperate. 

Deserted by husband. 

Intemperate. 

Old age and friendless. 
Partially insane and sickly. 
Bad husband and sickly. 



27 



W 



H L 

A S 

A C 

w s 

J p 

P H 

J L 

B P 

J B 

D M 

J M 

C R 

'P G 

N M 

J K 



J 
G 
J 
J 
J 

H T 

C A 

A S 

F S 

J F 

F C 
WW 

W B 

F G 

H B 

L D 



25 

55 
54 
29 
34 

36 

wj79 

24 

77 
* 

63 

18 
72 
80 
57 
47 
61 
16 
35 
35 
72 
37 
86 
45 
80 
60 
30 
66 
59 
56 
32 
28 
55 
16 
50 
72 
161 
|38 
120 
l20 
J73 
93 
!68 



22 
7 
4 

15l|22 
i60'22 



9 
6 

11 
5 

10 
5|15 

21 1 
7128 
2 



Ireland 
Ireland 



Ireland 
10 

27 

20 

18|England 

26Ireland 

14i 

111 

26! 



Ireland 



4 
21 
25 
26 

24 

21|EDgland 

lOjIreland 

7] '' 

41 '' 
25 
19 

4 
10 



28 

4 
11 
23 

18 
3 
6 

27 
4 

7 
28 
28 



Ireland 



Ireland 



France 



M 

S 
M 

S 
M 

S 

s 

s 
s 

s 
s 

M 

s 
s 
s 

M 

s 
s 
s 

M 

s 
s 
s 
s 
s 
s 

M 
M 

s 
s 
s 

M 

M 

M 
M 
M 

S 

S 
M 

S 

S 

s 

s 



Mother in asylum. 

Intemperate ; infant with her. 

Mother in asylum. 

Imbecility of mind. 

Sick husband and poor health 

Deformed and friendless. 

Loss of the use of her limbs. 

Sickly and friendless. 

Old age. 

Immoral. 

Old age. 

Mother in asylum. 

Intemperance. 

Partially insane. 

Intemperance. 

Old age. 

Intemperance. 

Intemperate and simple. 

a 

Imbecility of mind. 

Partially insane. 

Insane. 

Intemperate and lame. 

Imbecility and club foot. 

Intemperate. 



Intemperate and deaf. 
Intemperate. 



Partially insane, intemperate. 
Intemperate and Palsy. 
Deaf, Dumb, and friendless. 
Intemeprate and lame. 
Broken back. 
Intemperate. 

Sickly. 

Partially insane, and fits. 

Insane. 

Intemperate. 

Deaf, dumb and deformed. 
Insane. 



28 



F E 




22 


3 


2 


4 


Portugal 


s 


Insane. 


xM P 




56 




11 


20 




s 


Intemperate. 


G M 




55 


1 




11 


Ireland 


M 


u 


G M 




48 


2 


2 


10 


a 


M 


u 


E C 




38 






13 


•^ 


s 


u 


i) F 




49 


2 


10 


11 




S 


Clubfoot and intemperate. 


H W 




38 






7 




S 


Intemperate. 


J C 




46 






5 




S 


Li 


W T 




10 


3 


6 


24 


Ireland 




Intemperate parents, (at scl 


V K 




9 




11 


2 


a 




Mother in asylum, " 


M D 




8 




10 


11 


a 




a. a ci 


\V 




9 




11 








Orphan, '' 


G T 




7 


1 


2 








Intemperate parents, '^ 


D T 




6 


1 


2 








u u u 


A D 




7 




8 


4 


Ireland 




Orphan, '• 


M P 




5 


2 


5 


29 


u 




Intemperate parents, " 


J H 




4 


1 


7 


23 


a 




Intemperate mother, " 


P P 




5 




11 




u 




Orphan, " 


J L 




12 




5 




England 




Orphan and lame, " 


T E 




4 


1 


1120 






Mother in Asylum, '• 


J T 




7 




115 


Ireland 




Intemperate parents, " 


P C 




7 




227 


a 




Mother in Asylum, " 


T C 




9 




227 


a 




a c. a 


W G 




8 


3 




3 


'' 




Intemperate parents, " 


P F 




12 






20 






Dishonest, '' 


J S 




6 






16 


Ireland 




Deserted by Father, " 


M C 




5 






14 


u 




'' by Parents, " 


WT 




3 






9 


a 




ii a u' 


J> S 




2 


1 il6i 




'' by Father. " 


51 women. 


41 men. 


28 boys. 










16 


gi 


rls. 







136 total in Dexter Asylum. 
Children attending school, 28. 



The following letter was received in reply to queries. 

City of Providence, 
Mayor's Office, Dec. 11, 1850. 

I reply to the interrogatories proposed by you, as follows : 
viz : — 

1st. The city owns the Dexter Asylum, with farm of 
about 40 acres. The farm was given on condition that it 
should be retained for the use of the poor. Its actual value 



29 

is therefore, only that of 40 acres of good farming land with 
buildings. 

2d. This question cannot be answered accurately, because 
the farming is not carried on so much for profit, as to add to 
the comfort of the inmates of the Asylum. That part of the 
produce which is wanted for their use, is so used ; and about 
as much is derived from sales, as is required to pay for the 
hired labor, manure, &c., used on the farm. 

3d. The superintendent of the Asylum is paid by the 
city, $600 and the board of himself and family. 

4th. See answer to 8th. 5th and 6th, no answer required. 

7th. A member of the Board of Commissioners visits the 
Asylum every week. The Mayor occasionally visits the But- 
ler Hospital. 

8th. The city pays for support of Insane poor, at Butler 
Hospital, $4,693 59 

For support of poor at Dexter Asylum, 

from Dexter Donation, $4,394 15 

From city treasury, 2.452 26 

6.846 41 



For out-door relief, from Tillinghast 

Donation, 0.014 00 

From city treasury, 7.726 51 



7.740 51 

For expense of poor persons sick at city Hospital, 1.226 72 



$20,507 23 
The last year as made up by accounts. The present year, 
I hope it may be 1500 or $2000 less, as there has been much 
less sickness. 

9th. About 180 in summer and 230 in winter, are wholly 

supported at the Asylum. The out-door relief, is given im- 

der varied circumstances, to a large number of people ; but not 

exceeding one fourth part the expense of support in any case. 

10th. The Dexter Donation which yielded last year an 

income of $4,394 15 

The Tillinghast Donation, 14 00 

$4,408 15 

The Dexter Donation property, was bequeathed to the 
town of Providence, by Ebenezer Knight Dexter ; and the 



30 

Tillinghast Donation was also bequeathed to said town by 
Lydia Tillinghast ; both especially devised for the use and 
relief of the poor. 

11th. Instruction is daily given in a school at the Asylum. 

12th. Physicians attend the inmates of the Asylum and 
Hospital occasionally; out-door medical attendance is paid 
for, but most of the poor are attended by the physicians em- 
ployed by the Dispensary, or by those who are prompted by 
their own benevolence. The liberal conduct of the physi- 
cians of this city towards the poor is worthy of much praise. 

13th. The Asylum is well furnished with Bibles at the 
city's expense. Public worsliip by an ordained clergyman, is 
held on Sundays. I remain respectfully yours, 

THOS. M. BURGESS, Mayor. 

To T. E. Hazard, ComW. 



NORTH PROYIDENCE. 

The Asylum for the poor of this town, is comfortable in 
appearance, but not very conveniently situated for the inspec- 
tion of the public. The following is a list of its inmates on 
the 3d of 9th month last, the date of my visit to that institu- 
tion. 



L F 



M B 
A H 



R F 



M J 



Where Born. 



b<< 



12 
12 

2l 

12! 

2 

2 



N. Providence 

4 Cumberland 
4 Glocester 
N. Providence 

u 



England 

6 males. 
4 females. 






Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 



Intemperance. 
Insane. 
Old age. 

Intemperance. 



5 children under 12 years of age. 



15 total. 



31 

The following letter was received in reply to queries. 

North Providence, Nov. 22d, 1850. 

Upon my return home last evening from a journey, I found: 
your two letters upon my table, and I hasten to reply. 

1st. We have a farm with suitable buildings, and all in 
good repair, containing 64 acres. Original cost, $3600, and 
now valued at $5200. 

2d. There was sold for the year ending April 1st, 1850, of 
the products of the farm, $545 67 over and above what was 
consumed by the poor. 

3d. The salary of our superintendent is $300 per year. 

4th. The town makes no regular appropriation for the 
support of the poor. The cost for the year ending April 1st, 
1850, was about $1200, and this amount was exclusive of 
the keeper's salary. Situated so near Providence, we have a 
great many transient paupers, (mostly foreigners,) and I.lhi'uk 
from what little experience I have had, that nearly one half 
of our pauper expenses arises from that class. 

7th. Our town at its annual meeting in June, appoint a 
Board of Commissioners, consisting of three;, one of whom 
is overseer of the poor. 

9th. The average is not far from 25 reg^ilar paupers, the; 
year round. 

1 Itli. The children from the Asylum attend the district 
school. 

12th. A physician is annually appointed to attend upon 
the sick, and is paid by the town. 

13. Bibles are furnished for the poor, and those who con- 
duct themselves properly are allowed to attend religious 
meetings. 

I have above answered your questions, as far as I can from 
the documents in my possession. If there is any other infor- 
mation you wish, I shall be happy to commniiicate it, if in 
my power. I regret that I was not at home when your let- 
ters arrived, and trust that the foregoing information will be 
received by you in time for your report. Yours, &c., 

D. WILKINSON, 

To T. R. Hazard. 



32 

8MITHFIELD. 

The xlsylum for the poor of this town is situated on a 
^well improved and productive farm, and appears to be well 
arranged and conducted. The following is a list of its pau- 
per inmates 9th mo. 3d, 1850, that being the date of my visit. 









•Sg 




o 






1 






Where Born. 




Cause of Poyerty, and remarks. 


o 


s 


S) 


H^ 








^ 


s 


CXJ 

< 


y's 


w's 




^ 






R b70 


2 




Smithfield 


M 


Deserted by husband. 




A t:27 
1 


6 




a 


M 


Intemperate husband ; five 
children with her. 


T B 




37 




20 


a 


M 


Blind. 




E B 


37 




20 


a 


M 


Three children with her. 




F S 


43 


16 




a 


S 


Imbecile in m.ind. 




S W 


87 


9 


i '' 


s 


Old age. 




M A 


88 


16 


i '' 


s 


li 




C H 


35 




3 Ireland 


M 


Sickness. 




T P 


4U 


4 


Smithfield 


M 


Insane — husband intemper- 
ate — one child with her. 




P S 


56 


3 


1 u 


S 


Ill health. 




B BJ60J 


le' " 


M 


Intemperate husband. 




A c'ro' 2 


Ireland 


M 


Old age. 


S A 




8816 


Smithfield 


S 


Ill health. 


H S 




8010 


1 a 


M 


Intemperance. 


D B 




50! 3 


i 


S 


u 


E P 


|68; 4 


1 


M 


u 


J W 




70 


6 




u 


M 


Old age. 



6 males. 
11 females. 
1 1 children under 12 years of age. 

28 Total. 



The followiiig is the reply received to queries.: — 

Smithfield, 11th mo. 21, 1850. 
Respected Friend — Thomas R. Hazard, 

I herewith send thee such answers to the queries con- 
tained in thy circular, as I am at present able to give : should 
I hereafter discover any important error, I will send thee a 
.correction. Respectfully thy friend, 

THOS. BUFFUM. 



33 

Answer to query 1st. — We have a town Asylum for our 
pauper poor, with about one hundred and fifty acres of land 
attached thereto ; the whole establishment, I believe, has cost 
about $8,500. 

2d. — I should think that the value of its products was about 
six hundred dollars. There is not, to my knowledge, any ac- 
count kept of the value of the different articles produced on 
the farm. 

3d. — I believe that the superintendent of the Asylum is 
paid four hundred dollars a year and himself and family 
boarded. 

4th. — There is no specific appropriation made for the sup- 
port of the poor : a committee appointed by the town council, 
whose duty it is occasionally to visit the Asylum, draw on 
the town treasurer for such sums as they may think necessary 
for the proper and comfortable accommodation of all the in- 
mates of the Asylum. 

6th. — The town requires no security for the good treat- 
ment of their paupers, of the keeper. 

7th. — The Overseer of the Poor, with a committee, occa- 
sionally visit the Asylum to see that the paupers there are 
properly taken care of. 

8th. — The annual cost of supporting the poor at the Asy- 
lum, with the amount paid by the Overseer of the Poor to 
assist families who are not at the Asylum, with the salary of 
the superintendent, the interest on the cost of the Asylum, 
with two hundred dollars a year that we are now paying to 
the Butler Hospital, for the support of two insane paupers, 
I should think must be something more than two thousand 
dollars. 

9th. The average number of paupers through the year, is 
believed to be from twenty to twenty-five. 

10th. — No fund or legacy has been given for the benefit of 
the poor in our town. 

11th. — No provision is made for the education of pauper 
children other than to attend the district schools. 

12th. — The superintendent of the Asylum, I believe, is 
authorized to call a physician whenever he may deem it ne- 
cessary, at the expense of the town, to visit any of the in- 
5 



34 

mates, and the Overseer of the Poor calls a physician to at- 
tend those who are not at the Asylum, whenever he may 
think that they require medical aid. 

13th. — No particular provision is made by the town for 
supplying the poor with Bibles, or any facilities for attending 
public religious worship. 



CUMBERLAND. 

The Asylum for the poor of this town is well and pleasant- 
ly situated on the road, and appears to be well arranged and 
conducted. The following were a list of its pauper inmates 
4th of 9th month, the date of my visit. 



i 


1 


< 


s 

H 
y's 


w's 


Where Born. 


o 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


W B 

r B 




17 
25 


10 
25 




Cumberland 


s 
s 


Intemperate parents. 
Imbecility of mind. 


W B 

J s 




65 
65 


7 
4 




Glocester 


M 

M 


Intemperate. 
Insane for 25 years. 




P F 


48 


9 




Cumberland 


S 


Imbecility of mind. 


L B 


S A 


40 
34 


12 




Conn. 
Cumberland 


s 


Idiotic, (colored) 


P C 




82 
37 


3 




N. H. 


M ilntemperance. 

M 1 


C W 




65 


1 




Ireland 


M 


111 health. 




P N 


40 


20 




Cumberland 


S 


Idiotic. 


G D 




74 19 




iC 


S 


iC 




M C 


87| 8 




u 


s 




B B 

S M 
H S 




48 
53 

68 


15 

68 


32 


u 

ii 
u 


s 
s 

s 


Intemperate parents. 
Intemperance. 
Intemperate parents. 



12 males. 
4 females. 
4 children under 

20 Total. 



12 years of age. 



The following letter was received, in answer to queries. 
Cumberland Hill, Nov. 5th, 1850. 
Agreeably to your request, I will endeavor to give you, as 
far as is in my power, the information you desire. 



35 

1st. Our town has an Asylum for its pauper poor, with 
144 acres of land attached, valued at $7000 ; and the value 
of the whole establishment including buildings and personal 
property, is estimated at $13,000. 

2d. The money value of its annual products, is $1000. 

3d. $300 is the salary of the superintendent. 

4th. The sum of $2000 is annually appropriated for the 
poor, besides the products of the farm. 

9th. The average number of our poor, is 30 in summer, 
and 40 in winter. 

10th. No legacy has been given for the poor of our town. 

11th. No provision is made for the education of the pauper 
children, separate from the public school. A public school is 
established near the Asylum, where the pauper children at- 
tend, and enjoy the same privileges as other children in the 
district. 

12th. A regular physician is employed to attend the sick, 
when necessary. 

13th. The poor are furnished with Bibles, and always 
have the privilege of attending public worship. Occasion- 
ally services are held at the Asylum, by ministers of the 
Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist churches. The children 
attend the Sabbath school. 

I furthermore state, that the overseer of the poor is the 
superintendent of the whole establishment, and makes it his 
duty to visit the Asylum weekly, to ascertain the condition 
of the poor, and oftener when necessary. 

I would farther say, that some of the transient paupers are 
supported away from the Asylum, and that the $2000 men- 
tioned in answer to the 4th query, includes their support, and 
also the wages of extra help at the Asylum, and the salary of 
the superintendent. Yours, respectfully, 

FENNER BROWN, Overseer of Poor. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



BURRILVILLE. 

Visited the poor of this town, 4th of 9th month ; they 
seemed pretty comfortable. The following list comprised 
their number at the date of my visit. 



36 



i 


1 


< 


1^ 


Where Bom. 




Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


g 


t's 


w's 




E P 


F E 


88 
78 


7 
6 




Burrillville 


M 
M 


Intemperance. 




M H 


59 


12 




Mass. 


M 




A Y 


D I 


51 
45 


2 


4 


N. Provid'ce 
Providence 


M 
M 


Intemperance. 

Loss of husband ; 3 children 
with her. 



2 males. 

3 females. 
3 children. 

8 Total. 



Reply received to queries. 

5th. The town contracts to have the poor maintained by 
the year. 

6^th. A bond is required with security to keep them in a 
christian-like manner. 

7th. Supervision over the keeper is exercised by an over- 
seer. 

8th. From 500 to $600 is the annual cost to the town, 
for the support of their poor. 

9th. The average number of public poor is from 7 to 10 
in summer, from 10 to 12 in winter. 

10th. The town treasurer is the trustee of a fund of 
f 1000, the interest of which, ($60) is for the benefit of the 
poor. 

11th. Same provision is made for the education of pau- 
per children as is for others. 

12th. A regular physician is employed by the year to at- 
tend our poor. 

13th. Such of our paupers as are able, can attend at the 
several meetings held in the town, though no particular pro- 
vision is made in that respect. Yours respectfully, 

L. HAWKES. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



37 



GLOCESTER. 

Visited the poor of this town, 4th of 9th month, 1850 ; 
they appeared to be comfortably situated. The following 
table comprises a list of all I saw. I understood the keeper 
to say that he received $408 a year, for keeping them ; but 
that they were to be removed in a few days, to the house of 
another man, who was to have $312 per year, only. 



i 


m 
a> 


go 

< 


^ a 

S o 


Where Born. 


o 
ice 


Caus.e of Poverty, and remarks. 


^ 


y's 


AV'S 




N C 
D B 




79 
50 


9 
6 




Glocester 


M 
S 


Insane ; intemperate. 
Idiotic. 




M v|72 


2 






s Insane for 2 or 3 years. 


E K 
G T 


A A 


45 

70 
20 


10 
20 

7 






s 
s 


'' cause, loss of property. 
Deaf, dumb and blind. 
Idiotic. 



4 males. 

2 females. 

1 boy 8 years old. 

7 Total. 



The following letter was received in reply to queries. 

Glocester, Oct. 23d) 1850. 

I received a communication from you, a short time since, 
requesting me to answer certain questions relating to the 
management of the pauper poor of the town of Glocester. 
We have no Asylum in our town. The method pursued by 
our town, is to put out as many of our pauper poor as we 
can contract for, among their relatives ; and the remainder are 
put to the person who will keep them for the least sum, pro- 
vided he is a person that the town approves of. There are 
now fifteen on our poor list, which I think is full an average 
number. They were put out last August for one year. Ten 
were put out among their relations, and the other five, to a 
person to be kept under the supervision of an overseer ap- 
pointed by the town. It costs us from 800 to $1000 a year, 
to support our paupers. 



38 

There has never any fund or legacy been given to our town 
for the support of our poor. 

There is no special provision made by our town, for the ed- 
ucation of the poor children. 

Medical attendance is to be provided by the person or per- 
sons who contract to keep our poor. 

There are no Bibles furnished by the town for the use of 
the poor ; neither is there any special provision made for their 
attendance on public worship. Yours, &c., 

JOHN HAWKINS, Prest. of Town CounH. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



FOSTER. 

Yisited the poor of this town, 5th of 9th month. The 
house where they were then residing, seemed convenient and 
well^situated ; but there was not enough regard paid to clean- 
liness. The following is a list of its pauper inmates at that 
date. 













o 




?? 


1 




2 !^ 


Where Born. 




Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


-^ 


a 


?r 


J:LlL. 




^j» 




^ 


^ 


<1 


y's 


W'S 




^ 




G D 




71 


2 




Warwick 


s 


Personal injury. 


C B 




45 


12 




Foster 


M 


Insane. 


D H 




31 




4 


u 


S 


Idiotic. 


G H 




55 


3 




ii 


s 


Insane. 


H W 




46 


7 




u 


M 


Insane, now chained and has 
been for 7 years. 




E H 


40 


4 




ii 


S 


Insane, also distressing im- 
pediment in throat. 




E H 


80 


11 




ii 


s 


Old age and ill health. 




C T 


36 


1 




Conn. 


M 


Intemperate husband; 1 child 
with her. 




P Y 


75 


15 




Scituate 




Insane. 



5 males. 
4 females. 
2 children. 



11 total. 



39 

The following are replies to queries. 

1st. The town of Foster has no Asylum. 

5th. The method pursued by the town, is to contract, an- 
nually, with some person to maintain all the poor. 

6th. There is a standing committee to see to the good 
treatment of the public poor, (together with the overseers of 
the poor,) who are vested with authority to take them away 
and to provide a new place for them to be maintained. 

7th. The supervision exercised by the town over the 
keepers of their poor, is — power to take them away as above 
stated, and end the contract, and cause the keepers of the 
poor to feed, clothe and treat them well, during the time con- 
tracted for. 

8th. The annual cost of the maintenance of our poor, ha& 
been about $500, for the last twenty years. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given for the benefit of 
the poor of Foster. 

11th. The keeper of the poor is bound by contract, to 
send all the children of proper age, to school the whole time ; 
the expense paid by the town. 

12th. A regular physician attends on all occasions when 
called for, and his account is paid annually by the town. 

13th. There has been nothing done in particular, to furn- 
ish the poor with Bibles ; but all who are capable, can read 
the Bible when they please, and have the same means ta 
unite with their wealthier brethren in worshiping their Crea- 
tor, (such as are disposed,) as others in the vicinity. 

GARDINER HOWARD, Pres. Town Coun. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



SCITUATE. 

The Asylum for the poor of this town, is pleasantly and. 
conveniently situated on the road ; is well arranged for the 
accommodation of the poor, and appears to be well conducted. 
The following was a list of its pauper inmates on the 5th of 
last 9th month, the date of my visit. 



40 



in 


m 
O 

1 


t 

< 


.2 a 

H<1 


Where Bom. 


o 

If 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


a 


t's 


w's 




S S 


C P 

P w 


80 
40 


5 
5 


8 


Scituate 
Cranston 


M 
M 
M 


Old age and poverty. 
Intemperanee. 
Imbecility of mind. 




P K 


40 


5 




Scituate 


s 


u u 


J s 




30 


6 




u 


s 


u a 


L S 




36 


6 




u 


s 


11 iC 


J B 




56 




4 


a 


s 


Idleness. 


D W 
R B 




32 
65 


6 




New York 
Scituate 


s 
s 


Blind from infancy. 
Imbecility of mind from 


H B 




75 


25 




Scituate 


M 


youth. 
Imbecility of mind. 




J Y 


S7 


6 




u 


s 


Old age. 




C K 


80 


2 




Ireland 


M 


Insane. 


W S 




39 




4 


u 


S 


Loss of eye. 




B W 


83 


5 




Scituate 


M 


Old age. 



8 males. 
6 females. 

14 total. 



The following letter is in reply to queries. 

Scituate, Nov. 30th, 1850. 

Your letter to me of the 18th inst., with accompanying 
circular, was duly received, and agreeably to your request, 
and in conformity with my own feelings, I now proceed to 
give you the information required. 

In the month of October, 1844, the people of this town 
purchased a farm, containing 100 acres of land, with all the 
necessary buildings thereon, for the purposes of an Asylum 
for the poor of the town, at a cost of $4000. The inventory 
of the personal property of the town Asylum, by the last re- 
port, was about $952 — making the total amount of captal in- 
vested by the town in the Asylum, $4952. Last year there 
was kept at the Asylum — six cows, one horse, eight hogs, 
some sheep and fowls. The yearly products of the farm, are 
about — 



240 


00 


112 


00 


75 


00 


25 


00 


30 


00 


80 


00 


50 


00 


75 


00 


144 


00 


20 


00 



41 

20 tons of good English hay, valued about $12 

per ton, 
150 bushels of corn, 75 cents per bushel, 
150 '' " potatoes, 50 cents " 
50 " '' garden roots, 50 cts. '' 
500 lbs. cheese, 6 cents, 
400 '' butter, 20 cents, 
20 cords wood, |2.50, 

Products of a good orchard, 
2,400 lbs. pork, 6 cents. 

Products of the fowls. 

Total, $851 00 

The town employs a man and his wife to take charge of 
the Asylum and to take the general superintendence of the 
farm and all the pauper poor that may be put there by order 
of the town, by the honorable town council or by the over- 
seers of the poor, annually appointed by the town. Besides 
this, the town has a general agent of annual appointment, to 
take the supervision of all things relative to the management 
of the Asylum, including alterations, improvements, &c., to- 
gether with all contracts, sales, &c. connected with its con- 
cerns. 

The number of the pauper poor for the past year has been 

eleven, five females and six males, and the expenses of the 

town for their support and for the management of the farm 

and Asylum for the same period, has been as follows :— 

For superintendent and v/ife, $200 00 

Doctors, J. C. Roberts and T. O. H. Carpenter's 

bills for medicine and attendance, 21 63 

All other expenses of farm and Asylum, 161 08 



Total expenses, $382 71 

A female became chargeable to the town by reason of be- 
coming insane, and in order to secure for her the best treat- 
ment in that worst of all human maladies, and to promote her 
speedy recovery and return to the bosom of her worthy and 
afflicted family, the town sent her to the Butler Hospital. Af- 
ter being there two weeks only, she was taken worse and 
6 



42 

died. Her remains were returned to the family and there in- 
interred. Expenses at the Butler Hospital ten dollars, other 
expenses, probably twenty dollars — making the total expenses 
paid by the town for the support of their poor, $412.71. 

The agent, superintendent and overseers of the pauper 
poor of the town, are required to see that all of them, both 
old and young, are kindly and humanely treated. 

Both in regard to health and comfort, a good physician is- 
always required to attend when any of the poor are sick or 
ailing. 

A district school is kept about a furlong from the Asylum, 
where all the pauper children have the same privilege of ac- 
quiring a common school education as the other children in 
the vicinity. 

In regard to their religious privileges, our public poor en- 
joy the same freedom of religious worship as all the good peo- 
ple of this State have been accustomed to enjoy from its 
earliest history. 

The year preceding the purchase of the farm for the es~ 
tablishment of our Asylum, the cost and expense of main- 
taining the poor of our town was seventeen hundred dollars ; 
since the establishment of the Asylum, the expense of sup- 
porting our poor has been very materially lessened, as you will 
perceive by the foregoing statement ; and I have no hesita- 
tion in recommending to all of the considerable towns in the 
State, the same course as we have adopted for the main- 
tenance of their poor. 

The above, I believe to be very near a true statement of 
the facts relating to the pauper poor ol' this town, and I shall, 
ever wish you all success in this great work of humanity. 
I remain your friend, &c., 

BENEDICT LAPHAM. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



JOHNSTON. 

Visited this town the 28th of last 8th month. The follow- 
ing list comprises the pauper imates of the house I visited. I 
heard some complaints from the poor, and the general aspect 
of things was not altogether satisfactory. The annexed table 



43 



shows also the initials of several of the pauper poor who were 
boarded by the keeper at other houses ; those boarded out 
are marked thus.* 



i 


CO 

o 


t 

< 


ii 


"Wliere Boru. 


■g.s 


Cause of Poverty, and remai-ks. 


^ 


t's 


w's 




E S 




6618 




Johnston 


s 


Imbecility of mind. 




E G 


19 1 




u 


s 


Blind and lame, (cripple) 




E M 


1010 




a 


s 


Born on town. 




*R M 


4511 




a 


M 


Immoral conduct. 




*M W 


1818 

1 




a 


s 


Born on town, (young child 
with her.) 




*W P 


35 2 






M 


Loss of husband. (6 children 
with her.) 




*W H 


38 


8 




Johnston 




Imbecility of mind. (2 chil- 
dren with her.) 


G F 




17 

76 


1 

20 






S 

M 


Imbecility of mind. 
Rheumatism and other hurts. 


J J 




76 




16 


England 


M 


Old age. 



4 males. 
6 females. 
9 children. 

19 Total. 

The following replies were received to queries : — • 
5th. Our poor are put out by a committee appointed by 
the town to one person and place, who receives eight hundred 
and sixty dollars for taking all who are on the town and who 
may apply for assistance, and to pay Doctors' bills and all 
other expenses. 



6th. 



The town takes a bond with good and sufficient se- 



curity for the good treatment of the poor. 

7th. The overseer exercises a general superintendence over 
what concerns the poor. 

Sth. The amount paid for the support of our paupers, va- 
ries from six hundred to thirteen hundred dollars. 

9th. The number of our poor is twent3r-two in summer 
and thirty-six in winter, 

10th. No fund has been provided for our poor by gift or 
legacy. 



44 



11th. The overseer of the poor is directed to see that the 
children are sent to school. 

13th. The poor have access to Bibles in the house v/here 
they are kept, and liberty to attend public worship whenever 
they may please to go. The above answers are as near as can 
be obtained. 



CRANSTON. 

The Asylum is pleasantly situated on the public road, is 
conveniently arranged, and appears to be pretty well conduct- 
ed. The following list comprised its pauper inmates at the 
date of my visit, 8th month 28th, 1850, at which time I be- 
lieve, it had just passed into the care of a new superinten- 
dent, which will probably account for some slight appearance 
of confusion in the establishment. 



1 


1 

S 


< 




Where Bora. 




Cause of Povertv, and remarks. 


g 


Y'S 


w. 






M c43 


1 




Cranston 


! 

M Intemperate husband. ( 4 chil- 














dren with her. 




c p 54 

A P51 


7 






s 

s 


Imbecility of mind, (colored) 
111 health. 


B g| j71 

c s 25 


31 
2' 




M 

S 


Intemperate. 
Fits. 


!P s'50 


14' 




s 


Insane for 12 or 15 years. 


AW jl7 

i 


10 




s 


Deaf and dumb, (a cripple) 
colored. 


T J 




ilO 


2 


1 ■ 


cc 


s 


Intemperate father. 



4 males. 
4 females. 
4 children. 

12 Total. 



The following letter was received in reply to queries : — - 

Cranston, Oct. 12, 1850. 

Having received a request from you, that I should send you 
a statement of the management of the public poor and insane 
in our town, I take the earliest opportunity to comply with 
your request. 



45 

1st. We have an Asylum for our pauper poor. There are 
sixty-seven acres of land attached to it, worth two thousand 
five hundred dollars ; the buildings are worth one thousand 
dollars — total value, three thousand five hundred dollars. 

2d. The value of its annual products is four hundred dol- 
lars. 

3d. The keeper is paid one hundred and eighty-five dol- 
lars per year for himself and wife ; the Overseer of the Poor 
is paid forty dollars per year ; extra help, thirty-five dollars — 
whole amount, two hundred and sixty dollars. 

4th. The amount appropriated annually by the town for the 
support of its poor, in addition to the products of the Asylum, 
is about fifteen hundred dollars. 

5th. The treatment of the poor is left discretionary with 
the Overseer of the Poor, who is required to give bond and 
make oath for the faithful discharge of his duty. There is 
no other supervision exercised by the town over the keeper 
of the poor. 

9th. The average number of our paupers is about fourteen 
in summer and sixteen in winter. 

There has not been any fund or legacy given to our town 
for the benefit of the poor. A physician is engaged by 
the overseer to attend at the Asylum whenever occasion re- 
quires. 

There is no particular provision made by the town for the 
education of its pauper children, although they are sent to 
school by the overseer both summer and winter, to a free 
school in the district where they reside. 

Our public poor are not furnished with Bibles, neither is 
there any provision made by the town to enable them to unite 
with their wealthier brethren in worshiping their creator 
agreeably to the usages of the diiferent sects of Christians. 
From your friend, &c. 
DANIEL CONGDON, Preside?ii of Toivn Council. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



WARWICK. 

The Asylum for the poor of this town, is pleasantly and 
conveniently situated on the main road — is well arranged for 



46 

the comfort of the poor, and appears to be well conducted. 
The followmg table shows a list of its pauper inmates, on 
the 28th of last 8th month, the date of my visit. 



o 


i 

o 


c5 


Y'S:W'S 


Where Born. 


o 

V 


Cause of poyerty, and remarks. 


V G 




20 


20 




Warwick. 


s 


Can hear but not speak,(born 
on town.) 


W G 




86 


3 




a 


M 


Old age. 


A C 




46 


1 




u 


M 


Lameness. 


D W 


L P 
H B 
A M 


48 
17 
62 

88 


n 

4 


4 


England. 
Warwick. 

a 
ii 


S 

s 

M 


Consumption. 
Weakly and an orphan. 
Insane, (partially.) 
Intemperate. 



4 males. 

3 females. 

4 children under 12 years of age, (2 of them colored.) 

11 Total. 



The following letter was received in answer to queries. 

Warwick, Nov. 6th, 1850. 

I received a communication from you some time since ^ 
requesting me to procure answers to the several questions com- 
municated relating to the management of our public poor. 
The following answers are as near the facts as I can obtain 
them. 

1st. The tovv^n of Warwick has owned an Asylum for 
about 12 years. There are about 30 acres of land attached 
to it, which is probably worth about $1400, and the value of 
the whole establishment is about $3800. 

2d. The money value of its average annual products, is 
probably about $150. The land is not of the best quality^ 
and heretofore has not been made to produce what it should ; 
but we are now getting it under a better state of cultivation, 
and hope to get better crops in future. 

3d. The salary paid for superintendence of the Asylum. 
is $225 a year, for the man and his wife. 

4th. The amount annually appropriated by the town for 
the maintenance of its poor, in addition to the products of the 



47 

Asylum, is about $612. This amount includes the salary of 
the superintendent and his wife. 

6th. The town requires the keeper to strictly conform to 
the printed rules and regulations of the Asylum, which con- 
tain his duty and also that of each pauper ; and the Council 
is particular not to contract with any person for keeper, unless 
they are fully satisfied that both the man and his wife will 
treat the poor well. 

7th. The Council meet at the Asylum every three months 
to examine into the affairs of the Asylum, and the treatment 
of the poor. The superintendent makes all the purchases of 
clothing and provisions for the poor and presents his bill every 
month to the Council for examination. 

8th. The annual sum paid by the town for the support of 
the poor, is about $612. This includes the salary of the 
keepers. 

9th. The average number of paupers is 14. I have no 
means to ascertain the difference between winter and sum- 
mer, but probably there are from 4 to 6 more in the winter 
than in the summer. There is a book kept at the Asylum, 
and it is the duty of the keeper to enter the name and the 
day of the month when each pauper comes to the Asylum 
and when they leave. In addition to the above, the town 
have two insane patients at the Butler Hospital. 

10th. No legacy has been left for the Benefit of the poor 
in our town. 

11th. There is a district school house within a few rods 
of the Asylum, where all the pauper children are sent to 
school. 

12th. A physician attends on the sick at the Asylum,, 
when called for by the keeper or overseer of the poor, but the 
town makes no special contract for medical attendance on the 
poor. 

13th. The paupers have access to the Bible, and occasion- 
ally different ministers visit the Asylum and hold meetings j 
but the town is deficient in this respect. 

Allow me to say that I think that our public poor are as- 
well cared for, as in any other town in the State. Onr Asy- 
lum is large and convenient, and the poor are comfortably 



48 

clothed and fed, and are kept neat and clean in their persons. 
The keeper is not restricted in making his purchases, wheth- 
er of food or clothing, or of anything necessary to make the 
poor comfortable. 

By the statement made, it costs 84 3-4 cents per week, for 
each pauper — this is the average cost from April 1, 1841, to 
April 1, 1850, excluding the interest on the cost of the estab- 
lishment. Yours aespectfully, 

JOHN I. WOOD, Pres. of Toivn Council. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



EAST GREENWICH. 

The Asylum for the poor of this town, is a substantial and 
commodious building, well situated on the road ; is well fur- 
nished and apparently well conducted. The following is a 
list of its inmates, on the 28th of last 8th month, the date of 
my visit. 



id 


< 


Time in 
Asylum. 




T'S 


Vs 




62 
41 


1 

10 






90! 


13 




63| 




H S 


5l! 

75; 




B AV 


461 




A W 


42 







Where born. 



« -CD 



Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 



E. Greenwich 



G P 



Cranston 



Insane. 
Idiotic. 
Old age & loss of property. 

Rheumatism. 
Loss of property. 
Blind, and sick husband. 
Insane and confined to 
grated room. 



5 males. 
3 females. 

8 Total. 



The following reply was received to queries. 

East Gheenwich, Oct. 8th, 1850. 

I received 3^ours for the Tovv^n Council here, some days 
•since, and have deferred answering, to obtain the best infor- 
mational could of our Committee, and through them I have 
replied to most of your queries. 



49 

It is about two/years since, that we built an Asylum and 
purchased land. The cost includes two cows, one horse and 
wagon, and farming utensils — and a part of our expenses in- 
cludes purchase of manure and improvements made on the 
land, &c. 

We had hoped that our expenses would have diminished 
the present year, but now I think that we shall have an in- 
crease of inmates to balance. Yery truly yours, 

JOS. I. TILLINGHAST, Pres. of Towfi Coun. 

1st. We have an Asylum for our poor, with 17 acres of 
land attached. 1^1300 was paid for the land — the whole value 
including buildings, $4000. 

2d. The money value of its products for 1849, was about 
335 dollars. 

3d. For superintending the Asylum, we pay for a man 
and his wife, $200 and board. 

4th. The amount appropriated by the town for the sup- 
port of its poor for 1849, was about $418. 

7th. A Committee of three persons have the general su- 
pervision of the Asylum. 

9th. The average number of our paupers is about 10 — 
say 6 in summer to 13 in winter. 

10th. No legacy or fund has been given to the poor of our 
town. 

11th. Pauper children attend our free schools. 

12th. A physician is employed by the year to attend on 
the poor when needed. 

13th. Our public poor have Bibles, Testaments and tracts 
furnished, and are situated within a short distance from our 
village, where they may worship according as they may 
choose. 



COVENTRY. 

Visited the poor of this town, on the 5th of 9th month 
last, and found them in the most deplorable condition imagin- 
able. The house in which they were huddled, was old and 
dilapidated — and the furniture was absolutely unfit for the 
use of the most degrade4 of savages. This, I understood the 
keeper to say, that the town was to furnish. The mattresses 
7 



50 

and bed clothing were filthy and ragged. Not a sheet nor a 
pillow case was to be seen, and I afterwards understood that 
the town did not deem such articles necessary, and therefore 
were not in the practice of furnishing them. The chairs 
were all more or less broken or worn out, and there was but 
one in the house that had both back and bottom. A poor 
helpless, palsied female, who had not stood for years, was 
braced in the skeleton of one of these, by its being stuffed 
with rags. An insane woman who had been recently remov- 
ed by the town from the Butler Hospital, was ordered from 
her filthy lair, (where she was confined by the corner of a 
bedstead being pushed against the door,) in a tone of voice 
such as keepers of wild beasts use in colloquy with Tigers. 
At the stern summons, she came forth and stood silent and 
motionless, to be gazed at — a caricature of dispair clothed in 
filth and rags. No sign, look or token, indicated that she 
noticed ought that was said, until at her keeper's bidding, she 
quietly retired to her den. I happened to visit this house 
when the poor inmates were engaged at what was intended 
for dinner. A few hours before I had witnessed the poor in 
the town of Scituate, partaking of a plentiful breakfast of 
good and wholesome food. This, perhaps, rendered the ap- 
pearance of the repast before me, the more striking. On the 
the table I now beheld, a dish of unripe, watery potatoes, 
was all the food to be seen, or that was visible in the house, 
save a mouthful of Indian bread which a woman held in her 
hand. The supply of these miserable potatoes was evidently 
scanty, as they were soon all devoured, and the children lin- 
gered about the table evidently hungry still. As I was about 
leaving the premises, I observed two of these children going 
towards a pond with sticks in their hands. Supposing that 
they were going to fish, I was curious to inspect their tackle, 
and called them to me. I found that their poles were taken 
from a pile of brush near by, and that their lines were made 
of short strips of Avorn and faded cotton cloth tied together. 
They had no hooks of any description, and I question wheth- 
;er even a pin could be found in the poor-house for that pur- 
pose. This was a trifling incident to be sure, but associated 
^s it was with the desolateness of every thing around me, I 



51 

do not remember of ever having witnessed one that impressed 
me with a more heart sickening sense of utter and helpless 
destitution. 

I would gladly have been spared the pain of this narration, 
especially as the friends of humanity in the town of Coven- 
try, have recently succeeded in their efforts to induce their 
fellow townsmen to take decided steps to do away most of 
the abuses it discloses. But it should be remembred that 
these abuses grow in a great measure out of the system of 
venduing the poor, which, though now abandoned in Coven- 
try, is still adhered to by many other towns in the State ; and 
whose paupers may be consigned by the next chance fall of 
the auctioneer's hammer, to the same wretched fate that those 
in Coventry have just been rescued from. And it seems but 
fair to infer that if these disclosures have tended to awaken 
the people of Coventry to a proper sense of the injustice of 
venduing their poor to the lowest bidder, and to the necessity 
of its abandonment, that their perusal may also incite the cit- 
izens of other towns who still practice the same system, to 
abandon it also. The following were a list of the pauper in- 
mates at the date of my visit. 



M 


1 




! 

B 


o 

H 

Vs 


Where Bora. 


<o be 

va 

SCO 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 




M M 


65 


1 




Warwick 


M 


Insane, intern, husband. 


J s 


H S 


70 
46 


2 
27 




E. Greenwich 
Coventry 


M 

s 


Intemperate. 

Palsy, always confined to 
bed or chair. 




S C 


70 


9 




ii 


S 


Deaf and dumb. 




B W 


50 


3 




S. Kingstown 


M 


Insane, confined to a small 
room. 




A j34 


2 




Conn. 


S 


Intemperate husband, 2 
children with her. 




L j30 


2 




Coventry 


S 


Idiotic and blind. 




L j30 




20 


u 


s 


Insane, 




S K 


25 


3 




N. Kingstown 







1 male. 

8 females. 

7 children under 12 years of age. 



16 Total. 



52 

The following communications were received in answer to 
queries. 

Coventry, Dec. 13th, 1850. 

Respected Friend : — Your letter of the 18th of November, 
was duly received ; I delayed answering it until after our 
town meeting, which was held on the 11th inst., hoping I 
should then be able to inform you that we had made arrange- 
ments for purchasing a farm suitable for an Asylum for oiu: 
poor. The next week after I saw you at East Greenwich, I 
visited our poor house, and the next day attended our Town 
Council, and informed them of the situation of our poor. It 
was decided to call a town meeting immediately, which was 
held on the 11th inst. I am now very happy to inform you 
that the citizens of this town then decided to purchase a 
farm for the reception of the poor, with only three dissenting 
votes. A Committee was appointed and fully empowered to 
purchase a farm, to repair and build what might be necesary 
for the accommodation and comfort of our poor ; to purchase 
stock, farming tools, furniture, and every thing necessary for 
keeping house. 

It is said that the darkest time in the night is just before 
day, and I have but little doubt that the miserable condition 
in which you found our poor, has tended much to assist us 
in bringing about the happy change in our system of keeping 
them. Enclosed you will find the answers to the questions 
you sent me. Very respectfully, 

THOMAS WHIPPLE. 

To T. R. Hazard. 

Coventry, Dec. 13, 1850. 

The following is in reply to certain questions propounded 
to the town of Coventry, by Thomas R. Hazard : — 

1st. Has the town an Asylum ? I answer, no. 

2d, 3d and 4th, are answered by the first. 

5th. Our town hires a man to take all the paupers who 
come upon the town for a year. 

6th. A bond with sureties. 

7th. We have had a committee appointed to visit the 
keeper occasionally. 



53 

8th. The sum paid the keeper is $594. and for the better- 
ments in clothing and for medical attendance. 

9th. I cannot tell, but suppose the average for the year, 
may be about twelve. 

10th. No. 

11th. They have been sent to school when children are 
paupers of the to^n, but it has been the business of the Over- 
seers of the Poor to find good places, and bind them out. 

12th. A physician is appointed and paid by the town. 

13th. No provisions are made. 

ANTHONY TARBOX, Council Clerk. 



WEST GREENWICH. 

Tisited the poor in this town, the 5th of 9th month. They 
seemed to be well situated and appeared to be comfortable 
and contented. The following is a list of all I saw : — 









§d 




o 


. 


TO 






IS 


Where Bom. 


II 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


^ 


J^ 

fM 


< 


t's ■ 


ws 




s 




E S 




87 


11 




W. Greenwich 


M 


Old age. 




A Z 


76 


11 




iC 


s 


a 


H G 




71 


7 




u 


M 


Blind. 




S M 


74 


8 


Cranston 


M 


Insane (partially) deserted 
















by husband. 




S G 


65 


16 




W. Greenwich 


S 


Imbecility of mind. 




A W 


63 


12 




u 


M 


Blind. 


J W 




43 




2 


11 


M 


Intemperance. 



3 males. 

5 females. 

1 boy 12 years old. 

9 total. 



The following are the replies received to queries : — 

5th. Our poor are put out on contract, one year at a time, 
to some responsible person to keep. 

6th. For their good treatment, bonds in double the amount 
paid, with good security, are required. 

7th. Supervision is exercised by a committee who visit 
once a month, and oftener if they think proper. 



54 

8th. The cost to the towa for the support of their poor, 
is from $250 to $500. 

9th. The number of paupers is from six to eight in sum- 
mer, six to ten in winter. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given for the use of the 
poor of our town. 

11th. The pauper children are sent to public school at the 
town's expense. 

12th. The keeper is bound in his contract to furnish all 
medical aid. 

13th. The poor are kept near a meeting house where they 
can attend at pleasure, and have Bibles to read at their 
leisure. Signed, 

BENJAMIN R. HOXIE, President. 



NORTH KINGSTOWN. 

Visited the poor of this town, 8th month 29th. To all 
appearance they were very comfortably situated and cared 
for. The following list comprises all of the pauper inmates 
of the house I visited, including two (marked thus^) who 
were put out to board. 





i 


<5 


% 
a 


o 

H 


S 


t's 


w's 


J S 




65 


16 




G H 




84 


8 




T C 




59 




8 


WW 




74 


40 






A A 


18 


2 






E W 


82 


il 






N H 


85 


■^0 




J N 




50 


2 




S H 




15 


5 






*AC 


80 


14 






=^SC 


7B 


5 





Where Born. 



N. Kingstown 



Smithfield 
N. Shoreham 
N. Kingstown 



Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 






s 
s 
s 

M 

s 

6 males. 
5 females. 
1 child. 



Intemperance. 



Insane, perfectly harmless, 
will not hurt an insect. 
Intemperate parents. 
Lost husband and old age. 
Imbecility of mind. 
Intemperance. 
Orphan, born on town. 
Insane, (partially,) 

" caused by sickness. 



12 Total. 



55 

The following reply was received in answer to queries :— - 
North Kingstown, Nov. 4, 1850. 

Your circular, dated September 27th, is received. Feeling a 
deep interest in the welfare of the poor, particularly the in- 
sane, I take great pleasure in answering the questions pro- 
pounded. 

In answer to your first question, our town has no Asylmn 
that they own. 

5th. The town appropriates a certain sum, and then ap- 
points a keeper who furnishes the house, provisions, (fee. 

6th. The town requires the keeper to give bonds to pro^ 
vide comfortable board, clothing, &c. 

7th. The town council are required to visit the poor by 
one of their number once a month, and report their condition 
to the council. 

8th. The sum annually paid by the town for the sup- 
port of its poor, is about six hundred dollars. 

9th. The number of paupers in summer is from nine to 
ten, in winter, from twelve to fifteen. 

10th. There has been no fund or legacy ever given for the 
benefit of the poor in this town, to my knowledge. 

11th. There is no particular provision made for the edu- 
catian of pauper children, it is seldom that there are any of a. 
suitable age to go to school. 

12th. Previous to this year, the town has employed m 
physician. This year it is the place of the keeper to employ 
one at his own expense, his pay being a little more than 
usual. 

13th. I cannot say how well the paupers are furnished 
with Bibles : the town does not furnish any : the keeper being 
a professing Christian, may supply them. Their facilities for 
attending public worship are not very good. 

At the suggestion of the town council, it was voted at the 
town meeting last April, to maintain the insane poor separate 
from the sane. This was not accomplished without effort, 
w^hich was mainly put forth by the members of the council. 
We now have one Or two at the Butler Hospital, and one in a 
private family, in this town, which is a very good place. 1 
think that we are the only country town in the State that 



56 



support its insane separate from its sane poor, and I hope, 
for the honor of the town, that they will never be kept to- 
gether again. Respectfully yours, 

A. B. WAITE, President of Town Council. 
To T. R. Hazard. 



SOUTH KINGSTOWN. 

Tisited the poor of this town, the 30th of 7th month. They 
appeared to be kindly treated, but were too much crowded 
and disturbed by the ravings of several insane inmates, — one 
of whom was a boarder from a neighboring town. The fol- 
lawing was a list of all those in the house, (with the excep- 
tion of two from Jamestown, before mentioned,) and also of 
several marked thus,* who are partially assisted, or boarded 
out by the keeper. 



t 


1 

03 






Where bom. 


3 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


"rt 


s 




H^ 




^X 




^ 


^ 


^ 


y'rs 




^ 






I w 


45 


20 


S. Kingstown 


s 


Insane,hereditary (color'd) 




H C 


37 


20 


u 


M 


Imbecility of mind,(color- 
ed) child with her. 


F S 




22 


22 


u 


S 


Idiotic. 


W T 




68 


1 


u 


s 


Intemperance. 




A C 


60 


6 


u 


s 


Insane 6 to 7 yrs. (colored) 




E H 


45 


13 


u 


s 


Infirm in intellect, speech- 
less, but can hear. 




E C 


84 


2 


a 


M 


Old age, (colored.) 


W S 




40 


24 


u 


s 


Idiotic, intempr. parents. 




s c 


66 


4 


u 


s 


Insane, confined at times. 


J R 




45 


4 


u 


s 


Insane 12 years. 




M B 


45 


20 


N. Kingstown 


s 


Intemperance. 


.T E 




45 


7 


S. Kingstown 


s 


Idiotic, intempr. parents. 


C N 


*M G 


26 
34 


2 


u 


s 


Cripple, (very intelligent.) 
Insane 4 years. 


S N 




68 


4 


S. Kingstown 


M 


Lame, (colored) father of 
21 children. 


J S 




45 


7 


u 


s 


Imbecility of mind. 




R W 


38 


10 


a 


s 


Insane. 




*W A 


50 


1 


n. 


M 


" intempr. husband. 


*s c 




40 


6 


(( 


M 


Intemperance. 


*B G 




70 


2 


(( 


M 


Lame. 




*W G 


65 


2 


u 


M 


Old age. 


*G B 




74 


4 


u 


M 


Intemperance. 



57 

11 males. 
11 females. 
1 child. 



23 Total. 

The following are replies received to queries. 

1st. The town has no Asylmn. 

5th. A salary is annually fixed by the town, and then the 
keeper of the poor is elected by ballot, if required. 

6tli. To insure the good treatment of the poor, a bond is 
required with good security. 

7th. The keeper of the poor is subject to the supervision 
of the Town Council, who visit the poor once a quarter. 

8th. The sum paid by the town for the maintenance of its 
poor, is $600 to the keeper, and $25 to the physician, annually. 

9th. The average number of our paupers, is about 16 in 
summer, and 20 in winter. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given to the poor. 

11th. No especial provision is made by the town for the 
education of the pauper children : they are now placed quite 
near a district school house. But few children are on the town. 

12. A physician is paid $25 per annum for attendance. 

13th. Bibles and Testaments are furnished the poor ; no 
church within 2 1-2 miles. Occasional meetings are held at 
the district school house. 

E. R. POTTER. 



CHARLESTOWN. 
Yisited this town, 6th of 9th month ; saw but two of the 
poor. They were put out in families to board individually. 
The following is a list of all that I could see or hear of. 



i 


1 


c3 




Where Born. 


o 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


^ 


y's 


w's 




D H 
G R 
J H 

A L 

boy 


D K 


63 

60 
60 
80 
80 
18 


10 
10 
15 




Chariest own 


s 
s 

M 
S 

M 


Cripple from infancy. 
Intemperance. 

" and palsy. 

Intemperance. 
Blind, 



58 

5 males. 
1 female. 

6 Total. 



The following reply was received to queries. 

Charlestown, Oct. 18th, 1850. 

I herewith transmit the following answers to yom* queries, 
which I received on the 8th ult. 

1st. We have no Asylum in this town. 

2d. The paupers are put out individually, that is, the town 
contracts with their friends for their support. 

3d. They are under the care of the overseers. 

4th. The number of paupers at present, is seven, and we 
know not how many there will be in the winter, but we sup- 
pose about the same as in summer. 

5th. The expense of our paupers annually, is about $350. 
If they are sick, a doctor is employed, and their funeral ex- 
penses are paid by the town, gratis. There has never been 
any fund or legacy given for the benefit of our poor. The 
pauper children have the same opportunity to attend school, 
as others in the town. The poor are not furnished with any 
Bibles by the town ; they have the same opportunities to go 
to God's house, as their wealthier brethren, &c. 

Signed hy request of the Town Council of Charlestown. 
GIDEON HOXSIE, Jr., Cou7i. Clerk. 

To T. P%,. Hazard. 



WESTERLY. 

The poor of this town are boarded out with different fam- 
ilies, a few in a place. I visited two of these families, 6th of 
9th month, at which time there were the following persons 
placed with them by the town. They appeared to be toler- 
ably comfortable. 



59 



.s 




S) 


So 


Where Born. 


o 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


1 


^ 


CUD 
< 


t's 


w's 




^ 






M W 


43 


14 




Westerly 


S 


Cripple from birth, (creeps 
only. ) 




B R 


30 






a 


s 


Imbecility of mind and body. 


J c 




66 




4 


a 


M 


Sick. 


J B 




88 


6 




«£ 


M 


Old age. 




P B 


75 


4 




Conn, 


s 


Insane — -in poor health. 


2 males. 












3 fern 


ales. 





5 Total. 



The following letter was received in reply to queries. 

Westerly, Oct. 2d, 1850. 

I have before me your communication directed to the Pres- 
ident of the Town Council, and as I am probably more fa- 
miliar with many of the facts referred to in your interrogatories, 
I take the liberty to reply, and answer them as fully as I am 
able to do. Your first four questions may be answered by 
saying that we have no Asylum for our poor. 

5th. Our town for the last four years, has appointed an 
overseer of the poor, who has put them to different places — 
where they could be made comfortable, and pay a sum that 
might be agreed upon for the year, or in proportion for a 
longer or shorter time ; the overseer looking to their treat- 
ment, as the case may be. The answer to the 5th, may suf- 
fice for the 6th and 7th. 

8th. As our poor are put out individually, and as we can- 
not know how many there may be, we cannot of course tell 
the cost until the end of the year, when the facts are report- 
ed by the overseer to the freemen of the town. The average 
cost for support of the poor for the last four years, has been 
about $600 per year. 

9th. As far as my experience goes, the average number of 
paupers does not vary either in winter or summer, for the 
reason, that all persons who are able to do any thing, we 
assist sufficiently to enable them to support themselves. At 
our last annual report, there were ten persons supported by 



60 

the town entirely, and an equal number that had temporary 
aid. 

10th. There has no fund or legacy been given to the poor 
of our town. 

11th. There has been no provision made for the educa- 
tion of the pauper children, and there has been none on the 
town for the last four years. 

12th. The overseer takes care that the proper medical aid 
is furnished at the expense of the town. 

13th. There has been no particular arrangement made in 
regard to furnishing the poor with Bibles, nor in regard to 
religious worship : but all are permitted to go who desire to do 
so, and are able : and they have their choice as regards the 
place of worship or denomination. 

In explanation of the reason why it is so, that by reason of 
furnishing temporary aid to those who can assist to maintain 
themselves, there are none on the town except those who are 
advanced in life, or are decreped, or incompetent to take care 
of themselves, and would not be much if any benefited by 
any facilities that could be furnished them for religious wor- 
ship. I have endeavored to keep our poor with their connex- 
ions as much as possible, where they can be made comfort- 
able ; consequently, three of our poor are out of the town. I 
have in two instances, sent insane persons to the Butler Hos- 
pital, and the result in both cases has been beneficial, both 
having been discharged as recovered. 

Any aid that I can render you in the very laudable object 
you are engaged in, Avill be cheerfully accorded. 

I will take this opportunity to say, that for the last four 
years, the freemen of this town have made several attempts 
to procure a suitable tract of land for the erection of an Asy- 
lum ; and I think the reason why their efforts have not been 
consummated, is the difficulty of procuring a suitable place. 
I hope, however, that when we have the result of your labors 
before us, that we shall have increased inducements to con- 
summate our enterprise — -which, in my view, is very desira- 
ble, both for the comfort of the poor, and for the honor and 
interest of the town. Eespectfully yours, 

GEORGE D. CROSS. 

To T. R. HAZARd. 



61 

N. B. Perhaps I ought to advise you that I am now over- 
seer of the poor, and have been for the last four years, end- 
ing next June. 



HOPKINTON. 

The poor of this town, as I understood, are put out, an in- 
dividual at a place. At the date of my visit, 6th of 9th 
month, I could hear of only eight on the town f'viz :— -four 
males and four females, two of them colored persons. 

The following is a reply received to queries. 

HoPKiNTON, Oct. 11th, 1850. 

Your circular, making enquiries in regard to keeping the 
poor of this town, was duly received, and in reply I will 
answer your thirteen questions according to the best of my 
ability. 

Your first four questions all relate to a town farm, or an 
Asylum for the poor — in answer, we have none ; but the sub- 
ject has been agitated and meets with great opposition. 

5th. Our poor are let to the lowest, the town reserving 
the right to accept the bid or not. 

6th. The town takes no security for the good treatment 
of its poor, other than the well known character of the bid- 
ders. 

7th. A supervision is excercised over the keepers of our 
poor, by the overseers of the poor. 

Sth. The annual cost of supporting our poor is about 
#1000. 

9th. The average number of our paupers is about 10 in 
summer, and about 20 in the winter. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been given the poor of our 
town. 

11th. No provision is made by the town, for the educa- 
tion of pauper children. 

12t*h. The poor have good attendance in sickness, provid- 
ed by the overseer of the poor, and the best of medical aid. 

13th. The poor have no Bibles furnished them at the ex- 
pense of the town, but can attend religious worship, if they 
are able to ivalk two or three miles. Respectfully yours, 
ELNATHAN W. BABOOOK, Pres. of Town Coun. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



62 

RICHMOND. 

Visited this town 5th of 9th monthj but could hear of no 
poor on the town. The following reply was received in an- 
swer to queries. 

Richmond, Oct. 26th, 1850. 

I acknowledge the receipt of your communication request- 
ing information respecting our poor and insane, and will now 
answer your queries in order. 

1st, 2d, 3d. We have no As3dum. 

4th. The cost of supporting our poor is $100 per annum. 

5th. When we had any poor, they were let once a year 
to the lowest bidder, in the month of June ,• and such as 
come on the town after that time, were provided for by the 
overseer of the poor, until the end of the year. 

6th. If not well treated, our poor are subject to be remov- 
ed by the overseer of the poor to a better place, upon com- 
plaint ; and otherwise looked after and furnished with clothes 
and other necessaries. 

9th. We have had but one pauper for the last two or three 
years. 

10th. No fund or legacy has been left to the poor of our 
town. 

11th. Our pauper children have generally been bound out, 
conditioned to be sent to school four months in each year. 

12th. The overseers of the poor see to the wants of the 
poor, as regards medical aid. 

13th. Our poor are generally iet one in a place, and go into 
families who share with them the privileges they themselves 
enjoy, with regard to religious worship and the reading of the 
Bible. 

We have but one person now chargeable to the town ; he 
is insane and has been at the Butler Hospital, for the last two 
or three years. Previous to that he was sent to Boston, 
but received little or no benefit. Respectfully yours, . 

ELIAS TANNER. 



EXETER. 

Visited the poor of this town, 5th of 9th month ; they ap- 
peared to be pretty comfortable. The following is a list of 
them. 



63 



s 


1 

s 


< 




Where Born. 


o 


Cause of Poverty, and remarks. 


1 


t's 


TV's 






Mw76 


8 




Exeter 


S 






H s50 


5 




(C 


S 


Insane, (cause) disoppointed 
affection — child with her 




s p50 


10 




Cumberland 


M 


8 years old. 


F A 
W R 


F S 


57 
42 

57 


9 

8 
8 




Exeter 


S 
M 

M 


Insane, (partially) 
Accidental injury. 
Fits. 




R M 


50 


5 




a 


S 


Imbecility of mind. 



2 males. 
5 females. 
1 child. 

8 Total. 



Reply received to queries. 

Exeter, Jan. 15th, 1851. 

I received yours of the 18th but very recently, and imme- 
diately applied to the proper sources to get the information 
you desire, and have just obtained correct information as fol- 
lows. 

1st. Our town has no Asylum. Our paupers are alFput 
out together, to him or those who will keep them for the least 
sum of money, one year. In answer to question 

6th. The person or persons who agree to keep the poor, 
are required to give bonds to the town, in a sum double the 
amount they agree to keep them for, conditioned that they 
shall be well cared for. 

7th. One of the overseers of the poor of said town, is ap- 
pointed supervisory committee to see that they axe treated, 
according to the conditions of said bond. 

8th. The sum paid annually, averages from 300 to $500. 

9th. Average number in summer, from 8 to 10, in winter, 
from 10 to 15. 

10th. No fund or legacy has ever been given for said pau- 
pers, as I can learn. 

11th. Pauper children have access to our public schools, 
as other children. 



64 



12th. The person or persons taking the paupers are obli- 
ged to furnish them with medical attendance, when necessary. 
13th. There is a house for public worship within less than 
one mile from where the poor are now kept, and frequent meet- 
ings at other places near by. 

Yours, 

ISAAC GREENE. 
To T. R. Hazard. 



Table showing the cost of maintaining the poor in fifteen 
Asylums in Rhode-Island. 



Towns. 






^ 


p^S 


O 


^h. 


sup- 
in- 

am. 


u 


d^ 




Jg. 








<*-< u <v ^ 






it 






II 

" a 


!^l 


ii-: 


cost 
g po 
g inte 

of As 




P 


aj^ 


11^ 


Whole 
portin 
cludin 
cost 


£ 


^-3 


^ 


^a 


< 


DOLLS. 


DOLLS. 


DOLLS. 


DOLLS. ' 






DLS I CTS. 



Cumberland 

Smithfield 

Cranston* 

E.Greenwich 

Scituate 

N.Providence 

Warwick 

Middletown 

Bristol 

Warren 

L. Compton 

Newport 

Providence 

Tiverton 

Portsmouth 



300 

400 
185 
200 
200 
300 
225 

200 
200 
200 
325 
600 
200 
200 



1,000 
600 

400 
335 

851 
545 
150 

700 
1,000 

550 
1,000 

500 



35 

22 
15 
10 
11 

25 
14 
8 
15 
15 
14 
80 
205 
16 
15 



500 



Totals, |7,631 
Average cost for each individual 



13,000 


780 


2,000 


2,780 79 


8,500 


510 


ti,ooo 


1,51068 


3,500 


210 


1,500 


1,01067 


4,000 


240 


418 


658|65 


4,952 


297 


383 


680 


61 


5,200 


312 


1,200 


1,512 


60 


3,800 


228 


612 


840 


60 


ti,ooo 


60 


400 


460 


57 


6,000 


360 


500 


860 


57 


8,000 


480 


350 


830 


55 


4,000 


240 


500 


740 


52 


15,000 


900 


2,750 


3,650 


45 


140,000 


2,400 


6,846 


9,246 


45 


6,000 


360 


286 


646 


40 


5,000 


300 


30 


330 


22 


127,952 


7,677 


18,775 


25,752 





43 

63 
33 

80 
81 
48 
00 
50 
33 
33 

;7 

62 
20 
57 
00 



$51,50. 



*Since this report has been read to the General Assembly I have received a 
note from the President of the Council of the town of Cranston saying that he 
omitted to state in his former letter that more than $700 of the sum appropriated 
by the town for the support of its poor is expended in administering out door re- 
lief to about 18 indigent persons. I have therefore altered the statistics of that 
toAvn to correspond with this statement. 

fNot definitelv stated in answers. 



65 

Table showing the cost of maintaining the poor in 16 
towns that have not AsykimSj (Richmond not included in the 
addition. ) 



Towns, 





Annual 
sum paid 
by Town. 


||1 

DLS.ICTS. 



Mode of keeping the Poor. 



Hopkinton 

Glocester 

Jamestown 
Burrillville 

N. Kingstown 
Barrington 
Chaiiestown 
West Greenwich 

Coventry 
Foster 

Westerly 
Exeter 

New Shoreham 

S. Kingstown 

Johnston 

Richmond 



15 

6 
10 

11 
1 

7 
8 

12 
11 

*15 

t8 



18 

29 

1 



$1,000 

900 

350 
550 

600 

50 

350 

375 

594 

500 

600 
300 

169 

600 

860 



66 

60 

58 

55 

54 

50 

50 
46 

49 
45 

40 
37 

33 



66 



33 



54 



33 33 

29'65 



at Hospital. 



171|$7,798| 



Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Boarded out by contract. 

Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Boarded out by contract. 



Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Boarded out by contract. 

Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 

Boarded out by contarct. 

u a 

Put to person who will keep 
them for the lowest sum. 



Average cost for each individual per annum, $45,60. 

* Estimated number. 

t Estimated from tables before receipt of answers to circular. 



The following table shows the initials and ages of all the 
patients that were supported by the several towns of the 
State of Rhode-Island at the Butler Hospital at the date of 
7th mo. 5th, 1850, and also of all those that were supported 



66 



at that institution by the city of Providence 9th mo. Sd, 
1850. 



Where from. 



Providence 



Smithfield 

u 

L.Compton 
Warwick 

a 

Westerly 
Newport 
Richmond 



R A 
G O 



F W 
M M 



Where from. 



40 

66 
34 
53 
32 
50 
28 
17 
62 
55 
48 
31 
64 
2i 
52; 
67l 
34! 

25; 

60! 

48' 
40 
46: 

38' 
g21' 

h'25' 
l!76' 
s|40! 
f38 



Providence 

u 
u 

iC 

C( 

a 

iC 

a 

a 
a 
a 

i(, 
u 
a 
u 
Li 
ii 
a 

iC 

u 
ii 
a 

IL 

u 
u 
ii 
Johnston 



Newport 
N. Kingstown 
Cumberland 
Total, 28 males, 



S 


fcJD 

<! 


A C 


48 


M C 


33 


R G 


54 


M H 


57 


H H 


38 


J B 


54 


E C 


35 


E C 


63 


E C 


45 


M D 


33 


C D 


22 


M D 


41 


M F 


58 


E G 


38 


A M 


40 


MM C 


22 


EMC 


30 


C M G 


28 


MOB 


25 


E OB 


30 


M P 


43 


G P 


35 


A F 


30 


C J 


28 


M W 


40 


A W 


28 


A B 


64 


H B 


31 


E H 


50 


M N 


27 



O O CO o o 

O O (M o O 

c<) CO t>. o o 

O crs o o O 



o 
o 



I- 
O U 

« a 



§ ^ C S 



•^Z^ 



'S ^ 



^ C O ^ 
^ 

lo <^ ,2 ^ 

rH rH r^ - 

w o 

Ph O 

O r-( 
O C^ 
lO 1-1 



h o 
-3 O 

m Q. 



i-i ^ 

.•J 

•a 



p^ 



30 females. 



BUTLER HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. 

This institution, situated within the chartered limits of the 
city of Providence, was incorporated by the General Assem- 
bly of Rhode-Island, at their January Session, 1844. 



67 

The funds for its establishment were derived from the fol- 
lowing sources ; viz : — 

Bequeathed by the late Nicholas Brown, |30.000 00 

Donation from the late Cyrus Butler, 40.000 00 

Subscribed by all other persons, most of them 

citizens of Rhode-Island, 57.935 28 



$127,935 28 

It is required by the terms of the gift of the late Cyrus 
Butler, that the sum of $50,000 shall always be kept on in- 
terest, and the income be applied to the current expenses of 
the Hospital. 

Owing to circumstances incident to the commencement of 
new institutions of this kind, the Hospital became early in- 
volved in debt, from which they were generously relieved by 
Alexander Duncan, who, some time since, made a donation to 
the corporation of $20.000 ; which sum sufficed to cancel all 
the indebtedness of the Hospital, and leave a small balance 
to its credit. The institution is now entirely out of debt. 

By a statement, kindly furnished me by Dr. Ray. the su- 
perintendent, it appears that there were in the Hospital, the 
17th of last month— 

15 Patients from without the State. 
61 R. I. patients, supported by city and towns. 
26 " '' '' by their friends. 

12 " by State appropriation and friends. 
1 "by town and friends, 

115 Total ; of these, 52 were males, and 63 females. 
W the 100 patients belonging to Rhode-Island, 
23 were from foreign parts. 
74 were born in the State. 
3 " " in other States. 



For the information of the public generally, I have thought 
it best to copy into this report the following forms, required 
to be filled up and conformed to, on the admission of patients. 



68 

CERTIFICATE AND APPLICATION. 

I hereby certify that Mr. of 

is insane. 

Physician, 
I request that the above named insane person may be ad- 
mitted as a patient into the Butler Hospital for the insane. 

^y This should he signed hy the guardian or nearest relative or friend of the applicant, stafe' 
ing the relationship after the signature. 



OBLIGATION. 

In consideration of being admitted a 

patient into the Butler Hospital for the insane, at our request, 
we, the undersigned, promise the Hospital to pay to the 
Treasurer thereof, at said Hospital, quarterly, on the first days 
of January, April, July and October, with interest after said 
days respectively, the rate of board determined by the Trus- 
tees of said Hospital and stated in the order of admission 
hereunto affixed, to provide or pay for all requisite clothing 
and other things necessary or proper for the health and com- 
fort of said patient, to remove said patient when discharged, 
to reimburse funeral expenses in ca.se of death, and if remov- 
ed uncured, against the advice and consent of the Superintend- 
ent, before the expiration of three calendar months, to pay 
board for thirteen weeks. 

Witness our hands this day of 18 

Principal. 
Surety. 



ORDER OF ADMISSION. 
To the Superintendent of the Butler Hospital for the Insane : 

Receive the above named patient, if brought within two 

weeks from date, at dollars 

cents per week. 

) Visiting 



^ Committee. 

responsible persons as principal a 
m the Selectmen, or other sacisfac 
cient ahUicj; must accompany the bond. 



^y^ The chligation is to he signed by responsible persons as principal and surety; if from a 
distance, and unknown, a certificate from the Selectmen, or other satisfactory evidence of suffl- 



[The foregoing forms are not required for the admission of 
paupers.] 



69 

Thinking that a perusal, by citizens of other towns, of the 
following regulations adopted by the town of Warwick for 
the government of their Asylum, may be of public service, I 
have thought best to copy them. 

LAWS, EULES &c. OF WARWICK ASYLUM FOR THE POOR. 

The Master of the Asylum shall keep a register of all per- 
sons admitted into the establishment ; on which register 
shall be entered the names of the persons admitted, their ages, 
by whose order sent, their employment, time of death or dis- 
charge, and the time they have been supported by the town. 

He shall keep a list or inventory of all clothing and furni- 
ture belonging to the house ; the same to be laid before the 
Town Council, at their quarterly meetings. 

He shall superintend every thing within the Asylum, and 
also the farm ; and see that the rules of the institution, and 
the orders of the Town Council, are duly enforced ; reporting 
to them the destruction or waste of any of the property be- 
longing to the town. 

He shall cause the bell to be rung at six o'clock in the 
summer, and at half past seven in the winter, for the family 
to assemble ; and every evening at nine o'clock, to retire to 
rest ; and shall see that all lights are extinguished, except 
such as may be required in sick rooms. 

He shall attend, as far as practicable, to the security and 
comfort of the insane — keeping them in separate apartments. 

On Sunday, when religious services are performed at the 
Asylum, or in the vicinity, he shall cause all such inmates of 
the house, whose condition will admit, to attend the same in 
clean apparel, and see that their behavior is decorous. 

He shall, under the advice and direction of the Town 
Council, procure all the necessary supplies for the support and 
clothing of the poor, and also the necessary stock and tools 
required at the Asylum, and shall render to the Town Coun- 
cil, quarterly, his accounts, with vouchers for each charge. 

The Matron of the Asylum shall cause the rooms to be 
swept, and the beds regularly made every day and the rooms 
properly aired. The clothing of the poor to be kept clean, 
and their clothes changed, at least, once a week. 

She shall particularly attend to the females and children, 
and see that the nurses employed by her, behave with proper 
attention and humanity, to tho sick and infirm under their care. 



70 

On the death of any person at the Asykim, the Master or 
Matron shall take charge of all their apparel, and cause the 
same to be cleansed and deposited in some safe place, and re- 
port to the Town Council for their orders. 

All persons bringing with them clothing or furniture, shall 
be entitled to take the same away, whenever they shall be 
discharged. 

The Town Council, at their quarterly meetings, shall have 
a particular examination of all the persons in the Asylum, 
and shall discharge such as may appear to be no longer en- 
titled to continue there ; and may at any time, discharge such 
as, in their opinion, ought not to be continued there. 

The Master and Matron shall cause the food to be well 
prepared and justly distributed, and the table set in decent 
order. The bell shall be rung fifteen minutes before each 
meal, when every one shall cease from labor, and prepare them- 
selves for their meals ; and at the ringing of the second bell, 
in proper order, repair to the dining room ; those not attend- 
ing punctually, shall lose that meal, unless they can render a 
satisfactory reason for their absence. 

The Master and Matron, one or both, shall be present at 
every meal, and see that proper order and conduct be preserve 
ed. Half an hour shall be allowed for each meal, and at the 
ringing of the bell, all shall repair to their different employ^ 
ments. 

All persons in the Asylum, shall obey the rules and regula- 
tions, and behave respectfully to those placed over them. No 
one shall smoke in bed nor disturb the house by clamor or 
noise. The Master shall note in a book, the specified faults 
or offences, and lay the same before the Town Council, at 
their several meetings. 

The Master shall not allow any improper intercouse be- 
tween the sexes ; any violations of this rule shall be severely 
punished. No one shall strike, abuse, or give ill language to 
another ; or be guilty of profane language, or of any indecent 
behavior, on the penalty of solitary confinement, for a term 
not exceeding two days, and of a short allowance of food. 

No one shall leave the farm without a ticket of permission 
from the Master, or in his absence, from the Matron, specify- 



71 

ing the time of such absence ; and shall return at the time 
specified and deliver his or her ticket to the Master or Matron, 
and for neglect of so doing, shall be denied the priviledge of 
absence thereafter, unless satisfactory excuse be offered to the 
Master. 

On suspicion that any of the poor have taken any property 
from the farm not belonging to them, or in returning,_have 
brought any kind of spirituous liquors, or any liquors that 
lead to intoxication, such person shall be searched by the 
Master, and if found guilty, shall be punished by imprison- 
ment in his or her room, or in the cell, for a time not exceed- 
ing five days. 

After the bell is rung every morning, (Sundays excepted,) 
the Master shall direct such of the people to work, as are ca- 
pable. He shall enter in a book, the names of all persons 
under his care, able to work, and shall cause them to be call- 
ed over every morning. Every person shall repair to his or 
her work as directed by the Master, and shall diligently attend 
to the same during the time prescribed by him, and he shall 
comply with the orders of the Town Council, as to the 
branches of work to be carried on ; to the number and ex- 
tent of working hours, and to allowance of time for meals, 
relaxation and rest. 

Persons attempting to excuse themselves from their tasks 
by reason of sickness, shall be examined by a physician, who 
shall deliver to the Master, a written report of the state of 
such person's health. If sick, they shall be exempted from 
labor ; but if the sickness is feigned, such person shall be 
punished by an addition of labor to then- daily work, and be 
liable to such other punishment and restriction, as shall be 
determined by the Town Council. 

If any person able to work, shall refuse or neglect to repair 
promptly to his or her proper employment ; or shall loiter, or 
be idle ; or shall not perform the task to him or her prescrib- 
ed, or shall injure or waste any of the tools, or materials to 
him or her delivered ; or shall violate any of the orders or 
directions given by proper authority, with respect to his or 
her work, or shall hinder, disturb or obstruct any other per- 
son or persons in their respective employments ; every such 



72 

offender shall be punished, either by the privation of a meal, 
or day's allowance, or by such an addition of labor to his or 
her daily task, or by solitary confinement in the cell, not ex- 
ceeding one week at any one time, as may be determined on 
by the Town Council — to whom, at their first meeting after: 
the occurence of such delinquency, or the commission of any 
such offence, the Master shall be bound to make report. 

No visiters shall be admitted on the farm, unless by a per- 
mit from a member of the Town Council, Overseer of the 
Poor, or Advising Committee — except friends and relations of 
the sick, who may be admitted at all times by the Master, or 
in his absence, by the Matron. 



The following was kindly furnished by the keeper of the 
Newport Asylum. 

"BILL OF EAEE FOE THE IN^MATES OF NEWPORT ASYLUM." 
BREAKFAST I 

Rye and indian bread, with good milk porridge. 

SUPPER : 

Flour and indian bread, with good milk porridge, (first days 
excepted,) when tea and coffee, sugar and molasses, with but- 
ter at each meal shall be substituted. 

DINNER : 

First day. — Boiled Indian or Rice Pudding, with milk or mo- 
lasses. 

Monday. — Boiled Beef, with all kinds of seasonable vegeta- 
bles in sufficient quantities. 

Tuesday. — Minced salt Fish and potatoes, fried in fat. 

Wednesday. — Stew, of Fish or meat. 

Thursday. — Pork and beans, with other vegetables. 

Friday. — Fish, as on Tuesday. 

Saturday. — Soup, of a nutritious quality — and bread in suffi- 
cient quantity at every meal. 
Both the men and women who make themselves useful 

about the house and farm, have tea, coffee and butter daily, 

with meat three times a day, if they request it. The sick 

are fed under the direction of the physician, and are furnish- 



73 

ed with every thing their appetite re«[uires — old people like- 
wise. 

Sweet green corn, apple dumpling, fried fish occasionally. 
At Christmas, roast Turkeys, &c. A true copy. 

WM. H. REED, Keeper. 

Newport Asylum, July 8th, 1850. 



DONATIONS OR LEGACIES FOR THE POOR. 

It will be seen by referring to the answers received to the 
questions on this subject, embodied in the circular sent by me 
to the several towns, that there has been given or bequeathed 
for the use of the poor, the following funds. 

In trust with the overseer of the poor of the town of 
Jamestown, for their use, the sum of $30 annually. Bequeath- 
ed by the late Andrew Freebody. 

By the same testator, the rents of a lot of land of 7 acres, 
was given to the poor of Newport ; who also had bestowed 
for their use, the interest of $500, by Mr. Derby, a wealthy 
resident of that town. Also a share in the New England 
Commercial Bank was bequeathed for their use by the late 
Sarah Redwood. 

The overseers of the town of Middletown, are made the 
trustees of a fund of f 40 a year, left for the benefit of the 
poor of that town, by the late Andrew Freebody. 

A fund called the " Cambell Fund," amounting to $5,500, 
is held in trust by John T. Child, George W. Carr, and Seth 
Peck, for the use of indigent children in the town of Warren. 
The town treasurer of Burrillville, holds in trust the sum 
of $1000, the interest of which is for the use of the poor of 
that town. 

There has been bequeathed to the city of Providence, by 
Ebenezer Knight Dexter, a valuable property now occupied 
as an Asylum for the poor, for which purpose I suppose it to 
have been given ; and also by the same testator, a fund for 
the use of the poor of that city, which last year yielded an 
income amounting to $4,394 15. Also for the same uses, 
what is called the '' Tillinghast Donation," which yielded 
last year an income of $14. 
10 



u 



List of Insane persons in Rhode Island, as contained in the 
census of 1850, exclusive of those who are supported by the 
towns and the city of Providence ; also the initials of the 
heads of families or persons with whom they reside. 







02 




> -d 






CO 




;> -C! 






o 


<6 


.~< -i-j 








c5 


• l-i +3 


Towns. 


o 


1 


y's 


o ^ 


Towns. 


1 




< 
Y's 




Newport 




E S 


11 


TDS 


Coventry 




M A 




SWA 


a 




B J 


80 


G T 


a 


ERS 






W S 


ti 




N M 


56 


MM 


W.Greenwich 




A H 


30 


CDH 


a 




R F 


46 


J F 


il 




M C 


50 


J c 


iC 




P E 


50 


MWS 


a 


SDC 








Middletown 




E E 


43 


A S 


il 




A L 


44 


J B 


Tiverton 


J SN 




55 




E. Greenwich 




P 


70 


S 


11 


S T 




40 


J T 


a 


G M 




49 


MM 


u 


M L 




37 


WM 


Warwick 


E S 




63 




Portsmouth 




SEH 


35 


JEH 


li 




E F 


48 


S C 


LittleCompton 




HPS 


40 


L P 


il 


F S 




21 


T S 


a a 


A B 




41 


J B 


11 




s c 


54 


J W 


Bristol 


WC 




73 


S H 


11 




HAL 


44 


A L 


Warren 


A G 






DGF 


11 




F G 


63 


B G 


Hopkinton 




S B 


61 


P G 


li 




ERG 


25 


B G 


u 




HK 


53 


A K 


Glocester 




A G 


50 


M G 


il 


AW 




32 


S W 


li 




C K 


67 


B K 


tc 


R B 




49 


M B 


il 




A A 


51 


M A 


a 




A B 


54 


Z B 


Cranston 


J P 




83 


S P 


Westerly 




A G 


35 


E G 


11 




A F 


40 


A F 


li 




E C 


26 


M C 


'' 


WB 




32 


L B 


i( 




M T 


51 


PST 


Providence 


WF 




50 




S. Kingstown 




M G 


39 


M B 


il 


DW 




82 




a 




A G 


37 


M B 


li 


JSG 




24 


CEN 


Exeter 




E A 


51 


P A 


il 




STK 


34 


GMB 


u 




A A 


72 


J M 


11 


WNT 




30 


T T 


tl 


J S 




75 


CAB 


u 


CFH 




22 


TGR 


11 


WFD 




50 


J S T 


u 


S B 




45 




IC 


' 


A H 


45 


N H 


But. Hospital 




M D 


32 




Richmond 


G A 




47 




li 


B S 




71 




u 


BBT 




37 


RCJ 


il 




C F 


31 




N. Kingstown 




AMB|51 


BPB 


11 


T W 




47 




a 


P S 




55 




li 




MW 


42 




li 


MAG 




33 


J P 


li 




S S 


45 




a 


CGC 




39 


N C 


11 


WF 




20 




Coventry 




RAW 40 


J W 


u 




L P 


26 




li 




AC 




B C 


11 




H S 


60 




it 


A G 




40 


I 
J G 


11 




F G 


63 




il 




L S 


31 


W S 


11 




F S 


19 





75 



But. Hospital 


E S 




39 




But. Hospital. 




E P 


46 


<( 




E S 


50 




a 




M C 


37 


iC 


J J 




49 




a 


E L 




22 


{C 


T S 




39 




a 




M L 


49 


<i 


S W 




63 




ic 




S B 


32 


(C 


JW 




70 




a 




M G 


23 


<( 


W T 




32 




a 


JC 




37 


<c 


M T 




45 




a 




A T 


49 


ii 


H S 




56 




a 


J L 




76 


a 


C K 




28 




ct 




T L 


17 


It 




S B 


32 




cc 


J B 




36 


<i 


B G 




67 




a 


J s 




32 


ii 




L H 


27 




Johnston 








tc 




E F 


32 




N. Providence 


A M 




73 


4C 


W N 




16 




a 


B S 




78 


t: 




A T 


31 




a 


D G 






iC 




M C 


34 




u ' 




S S 


44 


ti 


CM 




27 




Burrillville 


J W 




B7 


iC 




E B 


61 




Scituate 




MW 


65 


a 


3 D 




29 




iC 


J A 




20 


tc 




AW 


42 




cc 


J B 




36 


tc 


J W 




21 




Poster 








a 




MD 


24 




Cumberland 


€ F 




16 


tc 




M B 


26 




cc 




L H 


52 


tc 




S B 


5] 




(C 




S R 


92 


tc 




WP 


26 




1 


S W 




63 


tc 




H L 


5B 




Smithfield 




I A 


40 


(t 




E L 


58 




cc 


Z B 




85 


iC 




A A 


30 




cc 


C A 




28 


iC 


G C 




17 




cc 


J C 




32 


a 




M L 


36 




cc 


J W 




41 


ti 


A H 




32 




iC 


J S 




29 




74 females. 










6 


6 mj 


lies. 









W G 

DS 

G S 

s s 

J A 
R A 

S B 

B F 
N H 
B R 
H W 
H S 
BE 
T A 

mk 



Total, 140 

28 pauper males at Butler Hospital, 
30 '' females " '' 

34 " males at Town Asylums, 
51 " females '' '' 



143 Total. 

Pauper insane, 142 
All others, 140 



Grand total, 282 insane persons now in Rhode-Island. 



76 



List of idiotic and imbecile persons in Rhode-Island, exclu- 
sive of paupers, with their ages and initials of persons with 
whom they reside, as per census returns, 1850, 







c» 




>^ 






03 




>r£i 






O 


6 








o 


o 


;- +5 


Towns. 


_o 




y's 




Towns. 


1 




6JD 

y's 


o9^ 


Glocester 




L S 


18 


N S 


Foster 


WFH 




18 


HH 


a 




B 


15 


HB 


11 




c s 


36 


HH 


N. Shoreham 


N L 




18 


S L 


a 


DB 




48 


V B 


li 


P W 




40 


C W 


iC 




L H 


27 


S H 


11 




MW 


32 


C W 


Cranston 


C W 




61 


B W 


a 


G G 




56 


GEO 


a 


HW 




27 


J W 


Coventry 


T J 




35 


R J 


u 




EMP 


13 


DWJ 


Warren 


WB 




22 


M B 


a 




T T 


35 


P T 


N. Providence 


WD 




50 




u 




MAS 


6 


STS 


Warwick 


CES 




21 


A L 


Providence 


-J M 




34 


WFH 


Burrillville 




L P 


39 


J 


a 




E H 


21 


B H 


a 


M B 




50 




u 


J R 




18 


A K 


Tiverton 




S B 


5 


WB 


N. Kingstown 




E C 


30 


WNC 


li 




C C 


23 


D C 


li 


WG 




19 


R G 


u 


E H 




16 


J H 


li 


RW 




15 


JWA 


« 


J D 




6 


A D 


u 


C A 




57 


SDA 


u 


G B 




18 


GDB 


11 


A C 




18 


J S 


cc 




S G 


40 


J G 


a 




SFH 


14 


T H 


u 




P F 


50 


M F 


L. Compton 


P B 




70 


P S 


i(r 




E F 


45 


M F 


Smithfield 




D L 


45 


E D 


u 




R S 


72 


M F 


a 




A L 


41 


E Lr 


cc 


WW 




41 


*F 


Bristol 




S C 


23 


MAC 


iC 




S W 


40 




a 


JE S 




17 


JWS 


u 


AW 




20 




a 


s s 




51 


M C 


li 




L W 


16 




li 




S L 


10 


J D 


li 




NW 


10 




a 


GSZB 




19 


JLB 


11 


JGW 




6 




Hopkinton 




H C 


72 


WGG 


li 


N H 




60 




a 


A N 




9 


S N 


Richmond 


T D 




53 


MTK 


a 


J K 




48 


A K 


Portsmouth 


6 M 




11 


B M 


li 


RSG 




21 


J G 


ei 




C B 


50 


WM 


a 




D B 


19 


WB 


E. Greenwich 




HOG 


15 


JOG 


Westerly 




F T 


62 


J T 


a 


SBB 




10 


L B 


a 


J G 




68 


S C 


u 


OHM 




3 


B M 


Cumberland 




EW 


9 


ASW 


Scituate 


N F 




45 


J W 


a 


M T 




55 


L T 


Exeter 




SEE 


12 


L C 


a 


L B 




44 


J S 


Foster 




Z J 


38 


E J 


61 


F B 




29 


J S 


u 


F P 




50 


B P 


li 




MET 


23 


G T 


11 


Z C 




42 


J P 


Charlestown 


IE C 




71 


H C 


li 


Z B 




48 


WSB 


a 

Newport 


^■ 


SEB 


3 


C B 


It 


JBS 




15 


c s 


J L 




32 


L L 



*Painily. 



77 

47 males. 
35 females. 

82 Total. 



30 pauper males at Asylums. 
24 ''• females " 

54 paupers. 
82 all others. 

136 Total number of Idiots and imbecile persons in R. Island. 



The following is a list of blind persons in the State of 
Rhode-Island, exclusive of paupers, and the initials of the per- 
sons with whom they reside, as per census, 1850. 







M 




.t'B 






M 




>^ 






<v 


a5 








<w 


a3 


•fH +-■» 


Towns. 




1 


y's 




Towns. 




-3 

a 


< 

y's 




Warren 




s c 


30 


L C 


Newport 




MCA 


27 


E T 


IC 




s c 


27 


L C 


(( 




P E 


73 


GWE 


cc 




EACE 


23 


M E 


u 




S W 


79 


GWL 


N. Providence 


WR 




55 


J W 


Foster 


TJB 




45 


TJB 


Tiverton 


A M 




51 


T S 


a 




A B 


79 


TJB 


a 


D M 




10 


MM 


N. Kingstown 




J B 


80 




JN". Shoreham 


F L 




66 




a 


C N 




39 




a 




SF S 


56 


J S 


a 


V G 




86 


CLP 


u 


D D 




76 




Smithfield 


D T 




46 


H S 


Coventry 


R M 








u 




CME 


13 


A E 


a 


J G 




39 


J W 


il 


J L 




38 




Glocester 


JCK 




50 


A K 


a 




S N 


61 


JMP 


u 


M D 




4 


C G 


a 


A V 




68 


EWB 


S. Kingstown 


AHK 




15 


WK 


a 




E G 


54 




Exeter 




E S 


57 


E S 


il 




L S 


74 


A H 


a 




RBC 


10 


E S 


Hopkinton 


E R 




25 




Charlestown 


WH 




17 


T J 


a 




R B 


83 


P B 


Bristol 


WRG 




35 


RSG 


u 


J L 




78 




a 


B M 




32 


J M 


C( 


J B 




88 




a 




N M 


77 


A M 


Cumberland 


A C 




17 


WC 


Newport 


G W 




20 


PWW 


Providence 


W F 




16 


J F 


a 


GDC 




4 


WEC 


u 




H Y 


81 


WHP 


u 


E P 




42 


J S 


iC 




M B 


42 




u 


CBC 




13 


SAC 


li 


GHC 




36 


* 



*4th ward 



78 

29 males. 
19 females. 

48 Total, exclusive of paupers. 
6 pauper males. 
6 " females. 

60 Total blind persons now in the State of Rhode-Island. 



List of the deaf Mute in the State of Rhode-Island, exclu- 
sive of paupers with the initials of persons they are residing 
with, from census returns of 1850. 







ro 




> -d 






^ 


. \ > ,^ 






<D 


© 


• F-l -1^ 






4> 


© ';5^ 


Towns. 




1 


t's 




Towns. 


1 


1 


T'SJ^.g 


Warren 


ABB 






J B 


N. Shoreham 


HD 




37 


JGD 


Johnston 




M D 


9 


J D 


ic 


R D 




44 


H D 


N. Providence 




C S 


23 


GLW 


Coventry 


C C 




9 


A C 


a 




S F 


26 


HNR 


Glocester 


GWW 




16 


J W 


Warwick 




MET 


36 


W T 


a 


A S 




29 


w s 


u 


J B 




26 


GWB 


S. Kingstown 


C K 




36 


B K 


Burrillville 







65 


s s 


Scituate 


A H 




6 


AH 


ii 




B AS 


30 


E A 


Foster 




NW 


64 


S J 


Portsmouth 




E S 


46 


s s 


Cranston 


C P 




51 




iC 




M S 


18 


s s 


a 


I G 




50 


S L 


cc 


swc 




40 


LWC 


Newport 


E L 




46 


JGIi 


IC 




A S 


64 


C C 


cc 


J L 




44 


JGL 


Exeter 


D C 




52 


JDL 


cc 




A L 


39 


JGL 


u 




A G 


64 


A G 


cc 


E H 




26 


P H 


u 


WD 




59 


A G 


cc 




B S 


89 


J T 


N. Kingstown 




J R 


22 


S R 


cc 


H S 




20 


S S 


a 




T D 


60 


R T 


cc 


G C 




54 


G G 


(f 




S D 


62 


EWS 


cc 




RAG 


37 


G C 


Smithfield 


CHS 




19 


JWS 


Cumberland 




A S 


36 


W S 


cc 


WD 




36 


J D 


cc 


WF S 




8 


W S 


cc 




D M 


25 


D M 


cc 


FWC 




5 


RS 


cc 


G M 




22 


D M 


L. Compton 




MEW 


6 


EW 


cc 




MM 


15 


DM 


Providence 




L S 


62 


§ 


Charlestown 




E T 


28 


JWT 


cc 


H B 




51 




Hopkinton 


W S 




18 


L S 


Westerly 




M L 


25 


c s 


Jamestown 


*0 C 




17 


P C 


a 




F L 


21 


c s 


Tiverton 


JWD 




15 


WRD 


a 


GHS 




62 


W B 


u 




S M 


11 


J M 


Cl 


M B 




31 


TBK 


. Shoreham 


*ND 




50 


JGD 


cc 


G & 




11 


PG 


a 


ND 




40 


JGD 













* Blind, t Insane, t Colored. §3d ward. 



19 

34 males, exclusive of paupers. 
25 females, " " 

4 male paupers. 

1 female " 

64 Total Deaf and Dumb, in the State. 
[The number of paupers in the foregoing tables of Insane, 
Idiotic, Blind and Deaf and Dumb is taken from the tables 
under the heads of the respective towns in this report.] 



STATE APPROPRIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF 
AND DUMB, AND THE BLIND. 

At its winter Session in 1845, the Legislature of Rhode 
Island, appropriated the annual sum of $1500, (if called for) 
for the education of the Deaf and Dumb, and the Blind, pro- 
viding that not more than $100 should be paid for the bene- 
fit of any one pupil per annum. Believing that it would be 
generally interesting, both to the members of the General 
Assembly, and the people of the State, to know what good, 
if any, had resulted from this philanthropic act, — I have 
taken the liberty to address a note of inquiry to Mr. Weld, 
the superintendent of the American Asylum for the Deaf and 
Dumb, at Hartford, and also one to Dr. Howe, the superin- 
tendent of the Perkins Institution for the Blind, in Boston — 
these being the two institutions in reference to which, more 
particularly, the appropriation was made. As the education 
of Idiots seems to be attracting a good deal of attention of 
late, several institutions having been established recently for 
this object in Europe, and in this country, I included in my 
note to Dr. Howe, inquiries on that subject, also — having un- 
derstood that an experimental institution for the education of 
Idiots had been lately commenced in Boston or its vicinity, 
under his auspices. The following are copies of the replies 
I have received. 

American Asylum, Dec. 17th, 1850. 

I am happy to furnish the information you desire respect- 
ing the beneficiaries of Rhode-Island, Avho have been or are 
now pupils of this institution. You must allow me, how- 
ever, to be as short as possible, as I am particularly busy at 
this season of the year. 



80 



NAMES. 


RESIDENCE. 


AGE, 


ADMISSION. 


DISMISSION. 


A S 


Portsmouth, 


25 y'rs, 


May 1845, 


May 1847. 


P S 


a 


20 


a 


ic a 


li a 


M E S 


cc 


14 


u 


(( a 


cc cc 


F L 


Hopkinton, 


26 


u 


a ic 


April 30, 1846. 


J B 


Warwick, 


20 


u 


Aug. 1845, 


April 29, 1847. 


CHS 


Glocester, 


15 


IC 


May 1846, 


April 24, 1850. 


PAW 


Johnston, 


8 


li 


May 1846, 


Now here. 


J W D 


Tiverton, 


13 


u 


May 1847, 


a a 


S W T 


Glocester, 


11 


a 


May 1847, 


cc a 


MET 


Warwick, 


10 


iC 


May 1847, 


cc cc 


M M 


Smithfield, 


13 


(C 


May 1848, 


cc (C 


S G G 


Hopkinton, 


11 


a 


July 1849, 


cc cc 


6 G 


Westerly, 


10 


a 


May 1850, 


cc cc 



As to the progress made by these persons whilst under in- 
struction, or are now making, I would say, (premising, how- 
ever, that the given ages were those to which the pupils had 
attained when first admitted as beneficiaries,) that the first 
two made very good improvement, considering their ages ; and 
that they were removed by their friends much against their 
own and our wishes at the end of two years. The third was 
less promising, and did not learn so well ; but probably might 
have been made a tolerable scholar, had she remained five or 
six years. A. — (the first named) is respectably married to a 
deaf man, in this State, and both she and her husband sustain 
unexceptionable characters, and are industrious and in com- 
fortable circumstances. 

P. — (the second named) is a smart, active, upright, good 
young man ; getting a good living and laying up some proper- 
ty, as I believe — and with good prospects of usefulness and 
happiness. 

M. — (the third named) I suppose is with her family friends, 
but I know little of her future prospects. 

F. L. — is a woman of good character, now living in Hart- 
ford, and supporting herself well by her needle. She had 
been a pupil here for several years before she became a bene- 
ficiary, and most of the time since has heed employed in the 
domestic service of the Asylum. 



81 

I. B. — is a mechanic ; was supported two or three years by 
his father, and one and a half by the State. I have heard of 
his being industrious and successful in his business since he 
left us, and that he has lately married. His standing as a 
scholar was pretty good, and I think that there is good reason 
to expect that he will do well in life. 

C. H. S. — was with us four years ; his attainments were re- 
spectable. He was ingenious at his trade and in other ways, 
and I have lately received a letter from him, which is respect- 
ably composed, and in which he expresses a desire to be use- 
fully employed, as he has been a portion of the time since he 
left us — but complains that his health has obliged him to 
leave one or two good situations. He has some peculiarities 
of termperament, and requires judicious management — which 
I should think his father was capable of exercising. I there- 
fore hope that he may yet do well. 

The remaining seven on the list are now with us, and with 

one exception, are doing well ; the exception is , a 

boy of weak intellect, and it is doubtful whether he will be 
able to make much improvement. The others are bright, 
promising children ; destined, we trust, to finish their course 
here reputably, and to become fitted for usefulness and hap- 
piness in life. 

I am glad that you propose to speak of the indigent Deaf 
and Dumb in your report. I think that there must be a num- 
ber of suitable age for instruction, who have hitherto been 
overlooked. I recollect the general object of your appoint- 
ment, as I was present when it was made, and cannot doubt 
that you have procured a mass of most valuable information, 
the publication of which I trust will do great good. 

I am very respectfully your friend, 

LEWIS WELD. 
To T. R. Hazard. 



Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum ) 
FOR THE Blind. — Boston, Dec. 27, 1850. ) 
Many of the inquiries in your note may be answered by 
reference to the enclosed report, niore satisfactorily perhaps, 
than in a brief note. 

n 



82 

The experimental school for Idiots has been thus far satis- 
factory. In eight out of ten cases, the improvement is very 
marked and decisive. Their filthy habits are corrected — they 
observe the laws of decency — they can feed themselves, dress 
themselves, and do many things which they could not do 
before. They are gradually acquiring the use of speech, and 
some can read and count. 

The most we can expect to do is to correct all unseemly 
and vicious habits ; to make them observant of decency ; 
to strengthen the body and give activity and dexterity to the 
limbs, and to train them to simple manual labor. 

We take pupils from without the state at various prices, — 
from $150 to $500 per annum, according to their condition 
and the pecuniary ability of their parents. We are obliged 
to seek other means than the allov/ance from the State, for 
the support of the Institution. It is probable that after this 
year, we shall receive pupils from other States, at $150 per 
annum. 

In our institution for the Blind, there are now seven pupils 
from Rhode-Island, upon our list of State beneficiaries, for 
Avhom the State pays $100 each, per annum, and their friends 
agree to pay $50 in addition, per annum. 

Their names are w. h. 
o. c. 
c. c. 

E. E. 
A. K. 
J. H. G. 
M. D. 

They are all doing very well. I really wish that you 
would make us a visit, and examine these young persons ; you 
would find them bright and intelligent, as well versed in com- 
mon school studies, as youth in your best schools ; con- 
siderably proficient in music, and expert at handicraft work. 
One of them you know, Oliver Caswell, deaf as well as blind. 
He is not with us this term. 

If I can give you any further information, please command 
me. Yery faithfully yours, 

S. G. HOWE. 

To T. R. Hazard. 



of Bristol, 


aged 17. 


of Jamestown, 


u 


20. 


of Newport, 


a 


13. 


of Warren, 


u 


22. 


of S. Kingstown 


J 


14. 


of Newport, 


u 


13. 


of 


11 


13. 



STATE APPEOPRIATION FOR THE RELIEF OF INSANE PERSONS. 

At its last Winter Session, the General Assembly appropri- 
ated the annual sum of $1000 for the relief of those insane 
persons in Rhode-Island, whose pecuniary resources were not 
sufficient without further aid, to enable their friends to place 
them at the " Butler Hospital ;" provision being made in the 
Act, that not more than $50 per annum, should be granted 
for the maintenance of any one patient. It must be highly 
gratifying to your best feelings to know that your charitable 
appropriation has already been productive of much good. 
The statistics under the head of " Butler Hospital," contain- 
ed in this report, show that there were recently 12 recipients 
of this bounty, in that institution ; and I am informed by 
the Governor of the State, who, by law, is made the dispen- 
ser of this fund, that he has granted in all, certificates for the 
relief of eighteen applicants. I know that there have been 
some families relieved by this timely charity of the State— 
who would themselves have much rather gone down with 
their afflicted relatives to the tomb, than to have been com- 
pelled to have consigned them to the horrors and degrada- 
tions which have become associated with the name of a poor 
house ; and through which terrible ordeal most of the towns 
in the State compel all to pass, however deserving they may 
be, before they even permit their friends to ask for public 
aid. to enable them to place their helpless and afflicted rela- 
tives at a Hospital founded by charitable funds, contributed 
especially for the benefit of the poor. 

Among other cases of suffering, which the bounty of the 
State has contributed to relieve, I am acquainted with one of 
a peculiar and most distressing character. 

It is that of a native of the town of Glocester, by the 
name of Willard Wade, who is now about sixty-three years of 
age. I have been informed that when young, this man was 
apprehended and about to be tried for the crime of having 
fired some building ; but it being manifest that he was de- 
ranged in intellect, he was delivered into the care of his rela- 
tives, upon his father giving bonds to the town, that he 
should not in future be suffered to go at large. From that 
time forward, he was kept in custody by the family until his 



84 

father's death ; who left by will, some rather unproductive 
looking property in the higher parts of Glocester, to a young 
man (who I believe had married a relative of the testa- 
tor) upon condition that he should support and look after his 
insane son, during his natural life. My attention was first 
directed to this case by Elisha Dyer, Jr., a benevolent and 
well known citizen of Providence, who, in two written com- 
munications of different periods addressed to me, detailed 
some of the facts and expressed much sympathy for the suf- 
ferer, and an earnest desire that he might be relieved. Un- 
der the kind direction and aid of Mr. Dyer, and of his friend 
in Glocester, Otis Sayles, who accompanied me, I visited 
Willard Wade, on the 27th of last 7th month. We found 
him about four miles from Chepachet, in an up hill direction, 
locked into an out-house some six or eight feet square ; into 
which, after some difficulty, we succeeded in obtaining en- 
trance. The room was as comfortless and filthy as could 
be imagined, and did not appear as if it had been cleansed 
for years. The apology for a bed was completely rotten and 
saturated with ordure. In this room, or in one similar to it, 
I was credibly informed, this poor man had been imprisoned 
for thirty-three years — nearly thirty of which he had been 
chained by the leg ; which limb then bore unmistakable marks 
of the iron that had lacerated the flesh ; the latter being 
much discolored and seemingly united in one solid mass with 
the bones and sinews. And yet, strange to say, I was forci- 
bly struck with the remarkable benignant and good humored 
expression of the sufferer's countenance. Both his looks and 
words breathed, as it were, the very milk of human kindness. 
Although he conversed freely and tolerably rationally, still he 
uttered no complaint. Neither did he exhibit any indication 
of suffering — ^unless as such might have been interpreted a 
sigh, which seemed unconsciously to escape from his lips, as 
he dropped, (after standing sometime,) heavily into his seat. 
My attention was directed to his feet, which were thrust into 
the lower extremities of what appeared to have been a pair 
of old boots. Upon being asked, (and not before,) he drew 
forth a foot, — one of the toes was entirely rotted off; the re- 
maining four, were black and matterated, as was also the ex- 



85 

tremity of his foot for some inches adjoining. This was 
caused, as I was told, by his feet having been frozen, I think 
the previous winter. No time was lost in seeking the keep- 
er of the poor maniac, who readily consented to remove the 
sufferer to the Butler Hospital, and to contribute all that he 
could afford (as he said) towards his maintenance in that insti- 
tution. With the aid of funds received from Governor An- 
thony, in behalf of the State, he was immediately removed to 
the Hospital, where I have frequently seen him since. He 
now appears entirely well ; his dreadful wounds being healed. 
He always recognizes me — has something cheerful to say- 
makes inquiries about things in the south part of the State— 
and, in compliment as I suppose, to what he deems to be a 
sectarian peculiarity in my character, converses with me in 
the plain language. 



METHODS OF KEEPING THE PUBLIC POOR. 

By referring to the communications received from the au- 
thorities of the different towns in the State, in answer to the 
queries proposed — it will be seen that four different modes 
are pursued by the towns in maintaining their poor. 

1st. By venduing them to the lowest bidder. 

3d. By contracting for their maintenance, with an indi- 
vidual, or individuals, through the agency of a committee or 
otherwise. 

3d. By placing all the poor in one Asylum, owned by the 
town. 

4th. By placing all such in an Asylum as are bereft of 
home and friends, and administering out-door relief to such 
as have. 

The cruelty and injustice of the first mentioned of these 
systems — that of venduing the poor, and compelling them to 
live with the man who will take them off the town for the 
least sum — is so obvious, that it seems almost insulting to the 
understanding, to attempt to prove it wrong. We are all 
more or less, creatures of habit. By becoming familiar with 
the most hideous objects, they lose in our eyes, half their de- 



86 

formity. And this tendency in our nature is, perhaps, all that 
can be offered in palliation of this wretched system. When 
stripped of all disguise, selling the poor to the lowest bidder, is 
simply offering a reward for the most cruel and avaricious 
man that can be found to abuse them. Without making con- 
tinual sacrifices from year to year, it is impossible under such 
a system, that a conscientous man should long continue to be 
their care-taker. Supposing that by accident or otherwise, 
a humane man should become their purchaser — he would 
feel it to be his duty not only to lodge and feed them well, 
but likewise to clothe them well. As the annual sale draws 
near, the avaricious eye of an unprincipled townsman has in- 
ventoried their apparel. With scarcely the addition of a patch 
it can be made, in his estimation, to cover the nakedness of 
his intended victims another whole year. His bidding in 
town meeting is graduated accordingly, against that of their 
present keeper, whose conscience would compel him to keep 
the clothing of the poor constantly good — and thus, unless 
he is both able and willing to submit to annual sacrifices, he 
must surrender the poor into the hands of one who buys 
them to obtain a reward by their oppression. But, say the 
advocates of the system, (perhaps,) we allow none but good 
men to bid them off — we appoint committees to visit the 
poor, and we take bonds of their keeper that they shall be 
well treated. This may all sound very well to an inexperi- 
enced ear — but really it is but adding the sin of mockery to 
the still more heinous sin of oppressing and selling the poor. 
Bad men are not unfrequently good politicians. Such often 
hold the balance of power in small towns ; and who, espe- 
cially when party spirit runs high, let me ask, is to throw 
themselves between such men and their prey, should they re- 
solve to purchase the poor themselves — or confer them on a 
partisan of dubious politics but of undisputed depravity. The 
very man, in all probability, through whose influence the poor 
have thus been sold to secure a wavering vote, becomes both 
the surety and overseer of their keeper. This system is 
mainly practised in agricultural towns — and let me ask, is 
there a man in any one of these, who aspires to the name of 
a farmer, who would in any contingency, offer his cattle at 



87 

auction to be kept by the lowest bidder, and depend ^solely 
for their good treatment on such security as is taken^for that 
of their pauper poor ? Would he not ridicule such a proposi- 
tion ? Would'not the strong common sense that seems na- 
tive to our^ soil, instinctively teach him, that no [bonds nor 
supervision could compel a dishonest man to fulfil such a con- 
tract-to his own injury. There would be a cheat somewhere. 
Bog hay would be substituted for English ; or ,the straw^on 
which it^was contracted that^the cattle should lie, would be 
given them for provender. It is high time that this ^miserable 
system of venduing the poor, revolting alike to common hu- 
manity and to every precept of the christian religion, was 
abolished in our land. Out of it have grown some of the 
most dreadful^abuses that have ever been perpetrated by man 
on his fellow man. Tlirough it^ numberless open as well as 
secret and unheard of cruelties have been inflicted on poor, 
feeble, -helpless, down-trodden, broken-spirited fellow mor- 
tals — placed by their afflictions and misfortunes beyond the 
pale of our civil, legal, social, and religious institutions; de- 
livered over to be tormented, by the most cruel of their spe- 
cies, with no friend on earth to appeal to — with none to com- 
plain to, save the righteous God in Heaven, who has promised 
that he will hear the cry of the poor and needy, and fearfully 
avenge their Avrongs. Doubtlessly there are instances (and I 
have seen such) where the poor have been and are now made 
comfortable under this system — but such instances form ex- 
ceptions rather than make a general rule. 

The method adopted by some towns of contracting with 
individuals to keep their poor — making their comfort the first 
and prominent object, is far less objectionable than that of 
venduing ; and when carried out in good faith and in a liber- 
al spirit, is perhaps quite as good a system as that adopted by 
towns that own Asylums, where all the poor are compelled 
to go without distinction. To separate an old person from a 
home that they have long been accustomed to, hr. it ever so 
homely, is very much like tearing an old tree from the ground, 
be it ever so poor, in which it has grown. Though you con- 
vey the one to a more splendid house, and transplant the 
other into a more genial soil, they will both, in all probabili- 



88 

ty, soon wither and die. It is cruel when the few grains of 
sand are running low in life's glass, to rend an old man from 
the discomforts, (if you please) of a home, around which are 
entwined the cherished remembrances of his childhood's days, 
and send him away to die. Better leave him to breathe his 
last sigh where his first breath was drawn — to look for the 
last time on the sun from the window, through which he first 
gazed on its beams. 

The 4th named system, adopted by some towns, viz : to 
own an Asylum to which all persons who are destitute of a 
home and friends are sent, and to administer out-door relief 
to such as have, is probably the most humane and christian- 
iike plan that in the present state of society, can be pursued. 
It is urged by some, against this plan, that, by adopting it, 
the public is liable to be subjected to imposition. To 
meet this it might be said, that other plans subject the pooi^ 
to impositions, which they are quite as unable to bear as the 
public. It is a maxim I believe, in law, that it is better that 
nine guilty persons should escape, than that one innocent per- 
son should be condemned. This is a sound, christian-like 
maxim, and one that will apply as well in our relations with 
the poor, as with criminals — nay, far more so, for in most 
cases of imposition practised by the poor on the public, the 
agents of the public are a party to them, in some degree. 
They sometimes designedly connive at what they know to 
be imposition, to save trouble or to silence importunity — or 
they designedly betray their trust to gratify friendly feelings, 
or minister to some of the thousand little hidden and indis- 
crible ramifications of selfishness, that pervade the social fabric. 
No individual or community was ever yet made poor by the 
practice of a liberal, discriminating charity — carried out in good 
faith — void of any selfish motives lurking at heart, and found- 
ed solely on love to God and his creatures. Look where we 
v/ill, we shall find that those communities that are the most 
forward in promoting good and liberal things, are ever the 
most prosperous, even in pecuniary aff'airs — and by far the 
most blessed in other respects. They are tioice blessed— in 
blessing others, they are blessed themselves. They give unto 
the poor, and it is returned unto them again ; good measure 
pressed doivn, shaken together and running over. 



89 

I feel great confidence in recommending this mixed plan of 
granting relief to their poor, to every town in the State which 
has not yet adopted it. In building an Asylum, I would re- 
commend that it should be placed on a public road, and on 
good land if it is to be procured — such as is suited to garden 
and fruit culture, that the inmates of the house should not 
be obliged to go far to their work, and expose themselves to 
the vicissitudes of the weather, far from any shelter. Being 
situated on a road renders the house easy of access to the 
public, and brings its affairs more or less before the people 
who pass it — this operates as a safeguard in some measure for 
the good treatment of the poor. Besides these advantages, 
the passing and little incidents that occur on the road tend 
not a little to dissipate the tediougness that often connects it- 
self with the monotonous life the old and decrepid are forced 
to lead. There may be counter advantages in some instances, 
that would render a situation off the road, and perhaps near 
the water, preferable ; but I believe that such will not often 
occur. Every citizen of the town should take an interest in 
their Asylum and occasionally visit it — which they will not 
be liable to do so often if it be located in a place difficult of 
access, as they would if situated on a road that they neces- 
sarily pass in attending to their daily concerns. 



KEEPERS OF ASYLUMS. 

However essential it may be for the comfort of the poor, 
that good buildings with convenient arrangements, furniture, 
&c., should be provided for their accommodation — still all 
these things are secondary to that of the character and dispo- 
sition of their keeper. On that appointment will their well 
or ill being mainly depend. If he be a kind, considerate, 
conscientious man, the mechanical conveniences of the home 
of the poor will be made to contribute to the utmost of their 
capacity, to their comfort. But if he be a hasty, brutal and 
ignorant man, all these conveniences will be of no avail. 
The sufferer on the rack experienced, formerly but little mo- 
dification of misery, whether his tortures were inflicted un- 
12 



90 

der the eye of Royalty, in the splendid halls of the Inquisi- 
tion, or were perpetrated by its sattelites, in its gloomy dun- 
geons beneath. From circumstanGes which have come to 
my knowledge, I am satisfied that the keeper of an Asylum 
may establish as complete a despotism in his little domain, as 
exists on earth — and that such things have been done, among 
us. It is sometimes made too much of an object in hiring 
the keeper for an Asylum, to procure a good laborer for the 
farm, rather than a good care-taker for the poor. And I fear 
that there are instances where keepers are allowed to under- 
stand that the more labor they can get performed by the poor, 
the better satisfaction they will give their employers. It 
seems no more than just that such of the poor as are able to 
work, should be employed in labor according to their ability ; 
but if inconsiderate young men are placed over them and en- 
couraged to over work the poor, great oppression may be 
caused by it. When the spirit is broken, as in the case of 
most of the elderly inmates of poor houses, labor is hard to 
perform, and it is unreasonable to require as much service of 
such, as of laborers of the same apparent physical ability, who 
work for hire. 

In visiting the poor houses it was my lot to arrive at some 
of them late in the day, and I have observed in some instan- 
ces that old men, who had been engaged in labor, had retired 
early to bed and seemed worried and fatigued. However 
amiable he may be in character, it is scarcely possible that a 
young man should be a proper keeper of the poor. Buoyant 
with joyful expectancy and full of the vigor and health of 
youth, himself, — he cannot rightly estimate or make due al- 
lowances for the infirmities of old age. He cannot realize 
the change that comes over the spirit of man as he advances 
in life, even when attended by every outward blessing, much 
less when old age comes on, accompanied by all the priva- 
tions of poverty and want. He has not yet felt that the arm 
of man is unnerved for toil when his spirit becomes weary of 
the world. 

I would prefer that the keeper of an Asylum should not be 
less than 50 years of age — of a gentle and considerate, but of 
a firm disposition ; and that his wife should be of the 



91 

same character. His mind should have been expanded by- 
reading, or by a general intercourse with mankind — and he 
should have a good knowledge of human nature. 



EXTRACTS FROM RULES AND REGULATIONS OF PORTSMOUTH 

ASYLUM. 

To show that there is a necessity of some State supervis- 
ion over the public poor in Rhode-Island, I have thought best 
to present for your consideration, the following extracts from 
the Rules of the Portsmouth Asylum. 

Rule 14th. No one of the poor shall go off the farm with- 
out permission from the Commissioners or Keepers — every 
one who obtains their permission, shall return in good order, 
at the appointed time ; if any one is suspected of bringing 
strong liquors or stolen property into the said Asylum, or on 
the farm, the keeper shall search such persons, and if found 
guilty, shall be punished as the Commissioners, or any one of 
them, may direct. 

16th. In all cases of solitary confinement for criminal 
conduct, the person shall be debarred from seeing or convers- 
ing with any person, except the Commissioners, the Keeper, 
or the persons employed to supply their wants, and their food 
shall consist of bread and water ; and shall be kept in con- 
finement as long as the Commissioners, or any one of them, 
may direct. 

18th. If any person maintained in the Asylum, shall wil- 
fully deface walls, or break the windows of the house, or in- 
jure any of the premises ; or shall disturb the house by con- 
versing loud, or shall quarrel, abuse, or strike any of the fam- 
ily ; or shall behave disrespectfully towards any of those 
having the care and charge of the house ; or shall drink to 
excess, or be guilty of theft or embezzlement, or shall profane- 
ly curse and swear, or be guilty of lying, shall ^be put into 
the dark room and there kept as long as the Commissioners 
or any one of them may direct. 

20th. If any person capable of working, shallj refuse or 
neglect to work, or shall be idle and will not perform the 
task for him or her prescribed, or is allotted ; or shall spoil or 



92 

waste any thing delivered to him or her, or shall violate any 
of the orders of the keeper or keepers, shall be punished as^, 
the Commissioners or any one of them may direct. 

I believe that it was a maxim of some ancient sage or phy- 
losopher — that, that government was the best, which gave 
equal protection to its citizens, without distinction of persons. 

If I understand the theory of our own republican institu- 
tions, they are sought to be based on this maxim. Our 
laws are not intended to be framed in reference to persons, 
but to things. It supposes the administrators of the law, to 
be deaf and blind to all but the facts relating to the subject 
before them. Under- the same circumstances the same judge- 
ment is to be meted to the rich and the poor, the little and 
the great. It is a maxim of our laws that the punishment 
shall not exceed the offence. The Constitution of our country 
declares *' that cruel and unusual punishments shall not he 
inflicted.''^ 

Now admitting the extremity of poverty to be a crime — in 
the name and in behalf of the pauper poor of the State, in 
all seriousness, I respectfully ask you as conservators of the 
rights and privileges of the people of Rhode-Island, to define 
what the punishment of that crime shall be. 

It seems that there is one town, at least, in the State, who, 
in virtue of authority delegated by you to them to provide 
for the care of their own poor, have decided poverty to be 
a crime of so deep a dye, that any one found guilty of the of- 
fence within its jurisdiction, shall no longer be deemed worthy 
to partake of the inestimable privileges of an American citi- 
zen. Henceforth, such persons are taken from under the 
protection of the institutions of their country, and compelled 
to submit to laws made especially for their government, and 
of so severe a character, that for offences so venial as not to 
entitle them to be reckoned even as misdemeanors in na- 
tional or state jurisprudence, they are condemned to under- 
go punishments that would be deemed unusually severe for 
our State courts to impose for the commission of most fla- 
grant crimes. The operation of these arbitrary laws are ren- 
dered still more galling from the fact, that their administra- 
tion is solely entrusted to one person, from whose decision 



93 

there is no appeal, and who is empowered to act totally irre- 
sponsible to any other authority ; neither is he obligated 
to render any account of his acts to any earthly tribunal 
whatever. You will observe that in one short section of the 
laws passed by the town of Portsmouth for the government 
of their Asylum for the poor, there are thirteen offences 
enumerated, for the commission of any one of which, it is 
made the imperative duty of the commissioner to sentence 
the criminal to solitary imprisonment in a dungeon, there to 
be kept on bread and water during his pleasure. So com- 
pletely are all the safeguards that have been reared for the 
protection of the rights and liberties of American citizensj 
annulled in this unmitigated despotism, that the keeper of the 
Asylum frequently becomes in his own person, accuser, wit- 
ness, and executioner of the law. When it is considered 
that this Asylum is insulated from public inspection, that a 
great part of its inmates for many years past, have been in- 
sane and idiotic, and most of the remainder, old and decrepid 
persons, it will require neither testimony nor argument to 
convince men acquainted with human nature, that the poor 
of this town must have been subjected to great wrongs. — - 
Neither could such men fail to perceive, that in case the keep- 
er of the Asylum should happen to be a man of a tyrannical 
and ferocious character, that he would be likely soon to usurp 
all the powers of the despotism, and administer as well as ex- 
ecute the laws himself. That such a man might be guilty of 
the greatest enormities in a community over which he could 
exert so despotic a power, there can be no doubt. It will be 
observed that one offence thought worthy of solitary confine- 
ment during pleasure, is lying. By one of the rules it is made 
the duty of a commissioner or of the keeper to read the laws 
to the inmates of the Asylum once a month. It is to be 
presumed that if any person in the establishment should ven- 
ture to make any demonstration of complaining of his or her 
treatment, that in reading the 18th section of the laws already 
quoted, a significant glance by the keeper to the rebellious 
pauper and thence toward the dark hole, would convey a hint 
sufficient to prevent any exposures. It seems to have become 
an established maxim with some people that all of the public 



94 

poor are liars, and with such the keeper's word would doubt- 
less be sufficient to convict any pauper of being guilty of that 
offence, and consequently a complaint entered to the visiting 
commissioner would most likely result in the complainant 
being sentenced to the dungeon for his temerity. Let no 
one suppose that this is an idle sketch of fancy, and that these 
laws are never executed. In a community, where a majority 
can be found to enact such laws, depend upon it individuals 
will be found to execute them ; and that such have been 
found, not only to execute, but even to abuse them, I have 
not the least doubt. Turn not lightly from the contempla- 
tion of these outrages because the poor only are liable to suffer 
by them ; we know not who may be poor. We know not 
but that our mothers, our wives, our sisters, our daughters, 
may yet become the inmates of a poor house ; what then if, 
through the operation of such laws as these, they become 
subjected to a ruffian's lawless will ; what if a widowed wife, 
or a gray haired mother, at some future day, rendered des- 
perate by oppression, (which is said to make a wise man mad,) 
should, for daring to complain, be cast into a dungeon and 
there fed on bread and water, with only a plank to lie upon 
for days and nights together. And yet would not this be a 
fit retribution for those who, knowing of such things and 
having the power to remedy them, refused to do so ? Why, 
it was precisely wrongs like these, that once capped the 
climax of human forbearance and drove a nation mad — that 
made all France to rise in mass and with gigantic fury, hurl 
from his throne their monarch to the grave, raze the fabric 
of the Bastile and tear its dungeons from the ground. The 
Bastile, once a word of fear throughout the world ; its very 
name had power to chill the heart and make the blood to 
pause in terror ; and yet, the victims of tyranny confined 
within its cells, suffered none the more for the celebrity of 
their prison-house. 

The dungeon of Portsmouth has scarcely been heard 
of beyond the boundaries of that town, and yet its victims 
suffer none the less. The bread and the water of the captive 
in the Bastile was probably as sweet as that given to the 
feeble old woman or the broken spirited ,old man in the 



95 

dungeon of Portsmouth ; the stone seat of the one, was no 
harder than that of the other ; the darkness all the same. — 
What then conferred such terror on the name of the Bastile ? 
It certainly was not the stone and mortar of which it was 
builded as other prisons are. No, it was that in its dungeons 
lay the victims of a tyrants will ; there, condemned to suffer 
at his caprice, without trial and without law. It was this, 
and not the prison itself, that nerved with hate the nations 
arm, and fired that fierce volcanic burst of frenzy that del- 
uged France with blood. 



THE INSANE. 

By reference to the statistics accompanying this report, it 
will be seen that besides 58 patients in the Butler Hospital at 
their charge, the towns maintain in all 85 insane paupers at 
their several Asylums and poor-houses. Of these I find noted 
in my memorandum book the following names of persons, 
who, as far as my very limited knowledge of the character of 
insanity will permit me to judge, are fit subjects for hospital 
treatment. 

East Greenwich. — Abigail Williams,^ aged 42 years, con- 
fined in a grated room ; a well looking woman and conversed 
quite coherently. 

Warren. — Ellen Mason and Betsey Chase, each aged about 
42 years, chained near each other to the floor and had been 
most of the time for 4 years or more ; both were well looking 
women and both conversed coherently. 

Foster. — Eliza Hale, about 40 years of age, a poor suff'ering 
object, insane in mind and affected with a most distressing 
spasmodic affection in her throat — also, Hazard Wilcox, of 
the same town, 46 years of age, a well looking man, then 
chained and had been for the last seven years. 

^Since this report has been read I have been informed by the present sheriff of 
Kent county, Mr. Bateman, that this woman was removed sometime after my visit 
to the Greenwich Asylum, and placed in a private family, wlierc she received kind 
treatment — under which, she has completely recovered her reason, and is now well 
and at liberty. 



96 

Glocestei\ — Mary Yalet, 72 years of age. Asenath An- 
drews, of the same town, 45 years of age ; insanity caused by 
loss of property. 

Coventry. — Betsey Whitman, 50 years of age, confined in 
a small filthy room. Lydia Jourdan, (also of Coventry) about 
30 years of age. 

Bristol. — David Cornell, 54 years of age, a most pitiful ob- 
ject. Mary B. Cornell,* of same town, 50 years of age. 

Portsmouth. — Mary Slocum, aged 60 years, has been 
chained for many years ; also a colored man has been brought 
to this Asylum since I visited it, and is now chained there, as 
I am informed. 

Jamestown. — Mary Weeden, aged 70, with the keeper of 
the poor in South Kingstown, who informed me that he was 
obliged to lock her out of her room days, or she would not 
sleep nights, nor allow others in the house to do so, on ac- 
count of the noise she made — was very clamorous when I 
saw her. 

South Kingstown. — Sally Cory, aged 66, confined to her 
room at times, has been insane about 4 years and is very 
boisterous. One other young woman in same town, who has 
since my visit been sent to the butler Hospital. 

The above mentioned 16 cases are all that I know of at 
the Asylums or poor houses of the State that I should feel 
warranted in recommending being sent to a Hospital; al- 
though, as I have before said, I do not by any means feel that 
I am competent to judge correctly on the subject. Most of 
the cases of insanity in our Asylums for the poor are of long 
standing and are probably incurable. Where such as these 
are under the care of kind and considerate keepers, it seemed 
to me that they were as well situated as they could be if 
placed in a large institution, where they would necessarily be 
subjected to more restraint, and where congenial occupation 
could not be so readily furnished them as at an Asylum where 
there were but few insane persons residing. But then, there 
is this difference in favor of the hospitals : in such an institu- 
tion the insane are always insured uniform and kind treatment 
— whereas, in a town Asylum a change of keepers may sub- 

*Since deceased, as I am informed. 



9l 

ject the poor maniac to the most brutal treatment, and it will 
matter but little to him whether this is the effect of malice or 
of the ignorance of his care-taker. 

I do not mean that these remarks should be understood to 
apply to cases of recent insanity — all such, I am decidedly of 
opinion, should be placed at once under Hospital treatment. 
And so should all those cases of longer standing, that cannot 
be controlled at town Asylums without resorting to chains, 
to close cofinement, or to personal abuses. In the absence of 
a Hospital for the insane, there seemed to be some semblance 
of an apology for the dreadful treatment which such persons 
have heretofore been subjected to in our State — but we no 
longer have that excuse ; and I hope and trust that the day 
is near at hand, when such abuses will be classed among the 
most flagrant crimes that are commited on earth — and when 
communities who sanction them, will be placed without the 
pale of civil society. Already has there been great progress 
made in this direction. It is but a very few years since, that 
men and Avomen, innocent of crime, were chained in dens 
and caves, and cells, and there left for years together ; shut 
from the light of day, without clothes or fire to shield or 
warm them. Astonishing as it may seem, I am credibly in- 
formed, that a small building that formerly stood in the high- 
way, in the town of Jamestown, has latly been removed, in 
which an insane man by the name of Armstrong had been 
confined for nearly twenty years, the year round without fire. 
But what renders this still more astonishing and almost pass- 
ing belief, is, that the building was elevated on posts some feet 
from the ground, and the floor made of slats, with spaces be- 
tween them, after the manner of a corn crib — that the excre- 
ments of the prisoner might be allowed to pass, and thereby 
prevent the necessity of cleansing his house. He died sud- 
denly ; and in preparing his corpse for the grave, many splin- 
ters of wood and straws were found imbeded in his flesh, 
where they had probably been forced by painful writhings on 
his prison floor. 

I lately saw a poor woman at the Newport Asylum, by the 
name of Rebecca Gibbs, who had once known better days, 
but had lost her reason in consequence of disappointed aftec- 
13 



98 

tion, about 30 years since ; from which time she had been a 
charge to the town. This poor creature was, as it were, com- 
pletely folded up ; her lower limbs being drawn up closely to 
her breast, so that her knees and chin nearly or quite meet. 
From this position they are never relaxed. I was told by a 
Commissioner of the poor, who accompanied me, that this re- 
volting deformity was solely occasioned by the poor creature 
having in years past, been shut up for several winters in a 
cell, without fire, and without clothes, (for the last, as is 
common with maniacs, she tore from her limbs,) where she 
endeavored to screen herself as much as possible from the se- 
verity of the cold, by placing her body and limbs in as com- 
pact a form as she was able to, and that thus the sinews and 
muscles had contracted and adapted themselves to the posi- 
tion in which her limbs had been mechanically forced by the 
extremity of the weather. 

But very different from this, indeed, appears to be the 
treatment which the insane receive in this Asylum, at the 
present day. I believe that I visited it at a time quite un- 
expected by the superintendent, and by all concerned in its 
management ; and although there were then 26 insane pau- 
pers in the Institution, I found them all at liberty, save one 
old man ; who, I was told by the Commissioner, was only 
temporally confined in his room for some misdemeanor, and 
would be released the next day, which I have no doubt was 
done. Taking into consideration that these were nearly or 
quite all old cases of insanity, I was forcibly struck with the 
strong evidence it exhibited in favor of the judicious treat- 
ment of the insane inmates of that Asylum, and felt almost 
convinced that there was no real necessity for the use of 
chains and prisons, in the treatment of the insane. And I am 
most decidedly of the opinion that if such means are to 
be used, they should only be applied under the skilful and 
humane direction of men who have made the proper treat- 
ment of subjects of this dreadful malady the study and busi- 
ness of their lives. 

If men of inexperience, or of uncultivated or depraved 
minds, are allowed to imprison, or cjiain their fellow crea- 



99 

tares at their pleasure or caprice, it matters not what may be 
the pretext, great abuses will inevitably occur. 

It is but a few days since, that, in answer to inquiries I 
made with regard to the condition of a colored man, I have 
before alluded to, who was taken lately from the Butler Hos- 
pital and placed at the Asylum of the town of Portsmouth ; 
that I understood the President of the Council of that town 
to say, — that this man was very well, but that on account of 
a habit he had of going to the closet and helping himself to 
bread and butter, he was then chained, it not being thought 
safe that he should use a knife, as he did in cutting the bread, 
&c. Still more recently, 1 understood the overseer of the 
poor of the same town to say, that this colored man was 
peaceable and inoffensive, but that he got in the way of the 
people engaged in the domestic concerns of the poor house, 
and that he was therefore chained to keep him away. For 
the relief of such cases as this, I am satisfied that there is 
the most urgent need of some State legislation. In vain will 
ever be all appeals to the humanity of a community, the ma- 
jority of which sanction and defend such abuses. For some 
years great efforts have occasionally been made by the more 
humane portion of the people of the town of Portsmouth, to 
relieve their insane poor, but without effect. They have not 
only been uniformly out voted in their town meetings, but it 
has been too evident that their exertions in behalf of the 
poor maniacs have only tended to rivit more firmly their 
chains. However divided on other subjects, all parties seem 
there to unite under the banner of oppression. It was on 
one of these occasions, when the question of relieving the 
insane poor was under discussion, that I heard a former Com- 
missioner of the poor, in a town meeting in Portsmouth, de- 
clare in a loud and boasting voice, that he had himself once 
severely fiogged an insane person at their Assylum ; and to 
all appearances, the shamless avowal of his brutish exploit, 
excited the approbation rather than the disgust of the major- 
ity of the assembly. It was at this time that the most stren- 
uous efforts were put forth for the relief of a young man by 
the name of Dennis, who had been brought from Providence, 
(where he had been at work at his calling, which was that of 



100 

a carpenter,) a raving maniac, and not only chained at the 
Portsmouth Asylum, but absolutely haled^ as it were, in sack- 
cloth. I remember, whilst he lay in this situation, putting 
an apple beside him, which he eat after the manner of a brute, 
by gnawing it as well as he could as it rolled about on the 
floor. The relations of this young man were among the 
most respectable and influential men in the town, and they 
made every exertion to procure his being sent to a curative 
Hospital. But it was all in vain. The god of Mammon was 
too strong for the angel of Mercy. It was some weeks or 
months after the failure of this efi'ort to relieve poor Dennis, 
that I visited the Portsmouth Asylum in company with that 
inestimable friend of humanity, Dorothea L. Dix, and the late 
lamented Anna A. Jenkins. Death was then about to relieve 
the sufi'erer. The strong man lay prostrate and powerless in 
its grasp. Life's contest with its all conquering foe, was near- 
ly over — I heard the fearful death-rattle in his throat — and I 
thought as I looked upon a Commissioner of the poor, then 
present, who had been active in opposing the removal of the 
dying man to a Hospital — that happy would it be for him, if, 
when the same pale messenger was sent to summon his spirit 
into the presence of a merciful but just God, that he might 
then be allowed to free himself from the guilt of the blood of 
his fellow creature, by the plea of ignorance. 

By the statistics contained in the report, it may be seen that 
the average time that ten of the insane paupers now at their 
Asylum, have been maintained by the town of Newport, is 
more than 25 years — thus showing that the town has been 
put to a charge for the support of ten persons only, of proba- 
bly not less than $12,000. Now, there can be but little doubt 
that a large proportion of these cases would have early recov- 
ered, had the subjects of them been sent to a good curative 
Hospital in the very earliest stages of their malady. Thus, 
besides the incalculable benefits resulting to the cause of hu- 
manity by restoring the patients to their friends and society, 
the public, would have been relieved from a great part of the 
expenses of maintaining them ; and the restored persons 
would have themselves, been enabled to contribute by their 
labor to the productive property of the community, and not 



101 

improbably, in some instances, saved their families or relations 
from coming to want and thus be thrown a burden on public 
charity. 

By recurring to the letter received from the overseer of 
the poor of the town of Westerly, it will be seen that he 
has adopted the humane plan of sending insane patients 
of that town to the Butler Hospital, and that two patients 
placed there by him, were both shortly restored to health. 
It will also be seen, by recurring to the letter received from 
the President of the Council of the town of North Kingston, 
that the people of that town have humanely decided hence- 
forth to keep their insane seperate from their sane poor. With 
the exception of the city of Providence, I do not know that any 
other towns than these two have adopted this laudable plan, 
unless it may be the town of Richmond, which, at the time 
of my visit, had no public poor, excepting an insane patient 
at the Butler Hospital. In alluding to North Kingstown, I was 
reminded of a most interesting case of msanity, brought to 
my notice in that town. It was that of an old man of about 
74 years of age, by the name of William Whitman, who has 
been one of the public poor of North Kingstown for about 
40 years. I was told by the keeper of their poor, (himself 
evidently a kind hearted man,) that this old man is so per- 
fectly harmless that he avoids, on all occasions, killing or 
hurting even the smallest insects, and that when at work in 
the field, he will carefully remove with his hand, the little 
bugs, worms, &c., that are in the way of his hoe, and 
put them one side, lest he should hurt them. I have thought 
it was a pity that many of our greatest, and what some might 
call best men, could not be visited with a degree of this most 
amiable species of insanity. And for one, I am free to de- 
clare, that, far rather would I, that the Almighty should dis- 
pense such an affliction as that to a child of mine, than that 
He should permit it to be cursed with hardness of heart, and 
a lack of sympathy with suffering, wherever it may exist. 

xls a final argument to add to others, to prove to you that 
there does exist a necessity for some State legislation, not 
only to provide for the better care of the insane poor, but al- 
so to protect the sane poor from being abused by the insane, 
I will lay before you a statement, in ueaily the same woids 



102 

in which it was related to me in the presence of a substan- 
tial witness, on the 30th of last 9th month, by Caroline Albro, 
an inmate of the Portsmouth Asylum. I believe that the 
character of this poor woman for truth and veracity, will 
compare favorably with the best in the land ; and if uncom- 
plaining, quiet resignation to the Divine will, and meek and 
patient endurance of suffering under the most afflictive dis- 
pensations, is to obtain a reward hereafter — she will doubtless 
receive a large share. 

After stating that some years ago she saw the (then) keep- 
er strike old Thomas Durfee, an insane man of 80 years of 
age, difiill blow with his fist on the side of his bald head, 
which staggered him — because he happened to be in the 
way ; and at another time, seeing old Hannah Lawton, a 
poor old crippled woman, lying on the floor unable to rise, 
without help ; having been, as she told her, knocked down 
by the keeper — and a few more trifling incidents of a similar 
character, Mrs. Albro proceeded to state — '^ that about six 
years ago, Mary Slocum, (an insane woman) struck my wrist 
with a fire hook, and shattered my wrist bone and knocked 
out my finger joint. I have suffered every thing with it ; I 
do now suffer much at times. Mary Slocum used frequently 
to strike the people here — and once struck me on the side of 
my head with her fist and hurt me considerably, but I soon 
got over it. Mary was once jamming a child, about a year 
old, against a chair. I was afraid that she would kill it, and 
took it up ; whereupon Mary seized a chair and struck me on 
the shoulder with it — on the same arm that she had before 
broken. My shoulder is still very lame in consequence of the 
blow — it is now nearly two years ago, since it was done. 
Mary came up one morning, where Miss Browning lay sick, 
and beat and hurt her considerably. Miss Browning died 
about six weeks or two months after this. I have suffered 
much for fear of the insane, and sometimes cannot sleep, for 
fear of being attacked by them. Last winter, I was in my 
room, which opens into the sitting room, where we usually 
sit, and I heard Mary Slocum attack Mrs. Cornell, an old wo- 
man of about 86 years of age. She beat her with a broom 
stick on the head, back, and arm^ and bruised her arm badly 



103 

and hurt the bone — so that she could never after that, dress 
or undress herself. She used to groan and complain much of 
her arm — she died about two weeks after the beating. She 
had (previously) been subject to spells of short breath, and 
seemed to fail fast after being beaten. I was told by them, 
who were at the house before I came, and who are now dead 
and gone, that Mary used to beat them and hurt them much. 
Mary Slocum once struck me at the table, on my hand with 
a knife, so as to make it bleed." 

On the same morning and after old Mrs. Cornell was so 
badly beaten, it so happened that I was at the Portsmouth 
Asylum, and I have no hesitation in saying that I believe her 
death was hastened by the beating she had received. Her 
arm was bound up and she appeared wild with excitement 
and fright and complained bitterly to me. This Mary Slo- 
cum was then chained, and I could liken the position she oc- 
cupied in that helpless family to nothing better than that 
of a wolf which a shepherd should keep chained in a fold and 
which was occasionally let loose to worry and devour the 
sheep, thus keeping them in a constant state of terror. 

The occasion of my visit to the Portsmouth Asylum at 
that time was to execute a commission which I had received 
from some excellent ladies in Philadelphia, to remove from 
the Asylum and place at board for life in a private family, at 
their expense, William R. Fales, one of the most remarkable 
and interesting young men with whom I was ever acquainted. 
For many years this young man had been afflicted with a 
rheumatic complaint to such a degree as not to be able to lie 
in any other position than on his side, neither could he turn 
or move himself in bed without assistance. His limbs were 
wrenched and distorted in the most shocking manner, and 
there was apparently scarcely a particle of flesh on them. He 
was in almost constant pain, which a great part of the time 
was excruciating ; yet through all his suffering his faith in 
the mercy and goodness of God never forsook him. To the 
last moment of his life his countenance retained a highly in- 
tellectual and almost heavenly expression. Whilst lying in 
this state he managed to write with a pencil many letters and 
some essays, which since his death have been arranged and 



104 

published by one of his female friends in Philadelphia, and 
altogether form an exceedingly interesting and instructive 
memoir. The sentiments expressed in some of his essays 
bear a striking resemblance to those of Penelon, and seem to 
be breathed forth in the same gentle spirit. His mind was of 
the finest mould and of the highest order, and nothing but 
health and education was wanting to have rendered him one 
of the first of men. He was removed from the Asylum about 
a year since and placed in a family where he received every 
necessary attention, but at the expiration of about seven 
months he was visited with a complicated disease, of which 
he died, aged about 30 years. Gifted with an exceedingly 
sensitive mind and of a delicate physical organization, both 
rendered more keenly susceptible by a most painful malady, 
it may well be conceived how his sufferings must have been 
increased by the constant apprehension of being attacked, in 
his helpless and perfectly defenceless condition, by the insane. 
He used sometimes whilst at the poor house touchingly to re- 
mark to me that he passed many long and weary nights with- 
out sleep on account of excessive pain, and that when his pain 
abated he was sometimes kept awake by the ravings and bab- 
bling of an insane woman who occupied an adjoining room. 

By extracts from the late census, kindly furnished by the 
Marshal of this District, which I have incorporated in this re- 
port, it will be seen that the whole number of insane persons 
in this State, exclusive of paupers, are one hundred and forty 
in number, including fifteen at the Butler Hospital belonging 
to other parts. It is however, most probable, that there are 
an equal or greater number than the last mentioned, at lunatic 
institutions without our limits, that properly belong to this 
State. It will therefore appear by the census, and the returns 
from the poor houses and asylums, as I have collected them, 
that there were two hundred and eighty-three insane per- 
sons in all, within the borders of our State. This number, 
however, I think too small. I have myself detected some 
errors in the census returns and I fear that there are many 
others. By examining the tables that I have constructed 
from these returns, the members of the General Assembly 
can probably decide whether they are correct as far as their 



105 

respective towns that they individually represent, are con- 
cerned. 

I have heard that in some countries the most appalling out- 
rages have been committed under the plea of insanity, by 
relations and guardians, who, under the pretence that their 
wards were insane, have from sinister motive, immured them 
in prisons or dungeons until they really became so. But it is 
hardly possible that such abuses can occur in this country, 
and I know not that any legislation on that point is necessary. 
However this may be, I feel that it is a subject too delicate 
and intricate for me to approach. An able paper treating on 
the legal relations of the insane, was published in the Month- 
ly Law Reporter of September, 1850. It is from the pen of 
Dr. Ray, Superintendent of the Butler Hospital ,* and is a sub- 
ject which he is qualified by both talent and experience to 
handle with a masters pen. 



IDIOTIC, DEAF AND DUMB, AND BLIND. 

Although the objects of my appointment does not embrace 
subjects of inquiry, that come under these heads, save 
so far as they are subjects of pauperism, I thought that as the 
statistics of the whole could be readily obtained with a very 
trifling additional expense, I would embody them in this 
report. By the returns of the late census, it appears that there 
are exclusive of paupers, 82 Idiotic and Imbecile persons in 
the State, which, added to the 54 pauper Imbeciles, as exhib- 
ited in the statements of my returns from the poor houses 
and Asylums, makes the total number in the State, 136 per- 
sons in all. 

By the same respective returns, it appears that there are 48 
Blind persons in the State, exclusive of paupers — making a 
total with the addition of 12 paupers, of 60 persons in all, 
exclusive of 7 pupils at the Perkins Institution. 

By the same returns, there appears to be in the State, 69 
Deaf mutes, exclusive of paupers — making a total, with the 
addition of 5 paupers, of 64 persons in all, exclusive of 6 pu- 
pils at the American Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. 
14 



106 

By these returns it appears that the relative number of In- 
sane paupers and all other Insane persons in the State, are as 
about — 1 pauper to 1 of all others. 

Idiotic, 1 " '' U '' 

Blind, 1 '^ '^ 4 " " 

Deaf and Dumb, 1 " ^' 13 '' '^ 

If these results are sufficiently conclusive to establish a 
general rule, it appears that the tendency of the terrible mal- 
ady of Insanity to pauperism, is 13 times greater than that of 
Deafness — 4 times greater than that of Blindness, and 50 per 
cent greater than that of Idiocy ; an interesting fact, if really 
proved to be so. 



PROPOSED LAWS AND AMENDMENTS. 

I will now respectfully present for your consideration, out- 
lines of such enactments as in the progress of my investiga- 
tions, it has occurred to me might be beneficial to the great 
cause of humanity, and redound to the honor and eventually 
to the interest of our State. 

1st. That corporal punishment, and all imprisonment or 
confinemement in dark rooms, or in dungeons, be totally pro- 
hibited at Asylums for the poor, in Rhode-Island, by Statute 
law. 

2d. That no pauper shall be closely confined or imprison- 
ed for a longer period than five days, for any one offence, un- 
der the authority of a town law, or of the regulations of an 
Asylum for the poor ; and that in all cases of close confine- 
ment, it shall be required of the Commissioner or officers of 
the Asylums or poor houses, to report the same to the Town 
Council or corresponding municipal authority as often as once 
in three months — stating the name of the pauper or paupers, 
together with their offence and the period of their confine- 
ment. 

3d. That the use of chains in Asylums for the poor, or 
bonds intended to confine the limbs, be positively prohibited ; 
excepting in instances where they may be absolutely neces- 
sary to effect the removal of an insane person to a curative 
Hospital, or to transfer a pauper, charged with the commis- 
sion of crime, to the officers of the State. 



107 

4th. That after the passage of this Act, all persons who 
may become insane and chargeable to the public shall be 
placed at the Butler Hospital, provided they may be received 
there at a rate not exceeding that which is now charged by 
that Institution for the maintenance and treatment of Insane 
paupers. 

5th. That the sum of fifteen dollars per quarter, for a year, 
be appropriated out of the State Treasury, towards the pay- 
ment of the maintenance of each insane pauper who may be 
placed at the Butler Hospital after the passage of this Act, 
and who shall have become insane after the first day of this 
present year.* 

6th. That the annual sum already appropriated by law for 
the education of the Deaf and Blind be increased to the sum 
of $2000 per annum ; and that henceforth the provisions of 
the Act in all its specifications, be extended so as to include 
such idiotic pupils as may be placed at institutions now es^ 

[*Since reading the Report, the following Acts have been 
passed by the Legislature.] 

AN ACT regulating the custody of Insane Paupers. 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — 

All persons who may become insane after the passage of this Act, and charge- 
able to the public, may be placed in the Butler Hospital, provided they may be re- 
ceived there at a rate not exceeding that vy^hich is now charged by that Institution, 
for the maintenance and treatment of insane paupers ; and the sum of fifteen 
dollars per quarter of a year, is hereby appropriated out of the State Treasury, to- 
wards the support and maintenance of each insane pauper who may be placed at 
the Butler Hospital, and who shall have become chargeable to any town in this 
State, since the thirty-first day of December, A. D. 1850. 

True copy — Witness, 

CHRIS. E. EOBBINS, SecY 
AN ACT regulating the Confinement and Discipline of the Poor. 
It IS enacted by the General Assembly as folloivs :— 

Section 1 . Corporal punishment, and confinement in dark rooms or in dun- 
geons, are prohibited at Asylums and houses for the poor, in this State. 

Sec. 2. No pauper shall hereafter be closely confined at any such Asylum or 
poor house, for a longer period than five days for any one oitence ; and in ail cases 
of close confinement, it shall be the duty of the Commissioners and officers of 
Asylums and poor houses, to report the same to the Tovm or City Council, as of- 
ten as once in three months : stating the name of the pauper, together with the 
ofience and period of his confinement. 

Sec. 3. The use of Chains in Asylums for the poor and in poor houses, or of 
any other bonds intended to confine the limbs of paupers, is hereby abolished and 
forever prohibited in this State, — excepting in such instances as they may be ne- 
cessary to effect the removal of insane persons to a cui-ative Hospital ; or to take 



108 

tablished, or that may be established, for the education or im- 
provement of Idiots, as the Commissioner appointed by law 
to dispense the fund may approve. 

7th. That to the duties of the Commissioner of public 
schools be added those of Commissioner of the Poor, which 
shall be to inquire into and investigate all complaints that may 
be brought to his notice relative to the treatment and condi- 
tion of the poor, and to see that the State laws, relating to the 
public poor, are properly regarded ; and in case of any abuses, 
to report them to the Legislature, either as they may occur as 
near as may be, or in an annual report, which he shall be re- 
quired to make by law, to the General Assembly. 

8th. All Trustees or dispensers of funds, or legacies, or 
property of any kind given for the benefit of poor persons, 
shall be required by law to make an annual report to the 
Commissioner of the Poor, stating the manner and mode by 
which they have discharged or complied with the require- 
ments of their trust ; and the Commissioner shall procure, 
and cause to be filed in his office, copies of all wills or deeds, 
or instruments, conveying or bequeathing any property or le- 
gacies, and see that the true intention of the donors are car- 
ried out and complied with in good faith — and include a gen- 
eral statement of the same in the annual report. As a com- 

and retain in custody, by the officers of the law, a pauper charged with the com- 
mission of crime — and all insane paupers now chained, or who cannot be restrain- 
ed without the use of bonds, may be removed to the Butler Hospital, in conformi- 
ty to the provisions of an Act entitled an " An Act regulating the confinement 
and discipline of Insane persons." 

True copy — Witness, 

CHEIS. E. EOBBINS, Sec'y. 

AN ACT In amendment of an Act, entitled an Act to provide for the education 

of the indigent Blind and indigent Deaf Mutes in this State. 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows : — 

Section 1. The Act of which this is an amendment, is so far altered as that 
the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, instead of Fifteen Hundred Dollars, shall be 
annually appropriated ; and the provisions of said Act shall be extended to, and 
include such Idiot and Imbecile pupils, as may be placed at Institutions now es- 
tablished, or that may be established for the education and improvement of Idiots, 
as the Commissioner* appointed by law to distribute the fund, shall approve. 

Sec. 2. So much of the Act of which this is an amendment, as is inconsistent 
herewith, is hereby repealed. True copy — Witness, 

CHRIS. E. EOBBINS, Sec'y. 
[*Byron Diman is the present Commissioner.] 



109 

pensation for the increased service incurred, one hundred dol- 
lars per annum shall be added by law, to the present salary 
of said Commissioner. 

It appears to me that the enactment and enforcing of these 
laws would place our poor on as favorable a footing as is prac- 
ticable in the present state of things, and that in a very short 
time their good effects would be very perceptible. By plac- 
ing all new cases of insanity at the Butler Hospital, it is most 
probable that a large proportion of the patients would recover 
and be restored to their families. In a few years the old and 
incurable cases now at the town Asylums, will have dropped 
into their graves ; and thus the sane paupers will be left their 
sole occupants, greatly to their own relief, and that of their 
care-takers. 

Through the greater elevation and expansion of mind 
which must enevitably flow from the more liberal education 
which the present rising generations are increasingly favored 
to partake of over those that have come forward before them, 
a higher standard of morality will infuse itself into society, 
and relatives will be less seldom consigned to the care of the 
public by their kinsmen, than has been the case heretofore ,• 
and thus in all probability tend much to decrease the number of 
the pauper poor. These joined to the constantly decreasing use 
of ardent spirits in our country — that most prolific source of 
poverty and crime, will soon cause, it is to be hoped, our poor 
houses to be but sparsely peopled. 

If it is practicable to improve the condition of the Idiotic 
youth, by education, there seems no good reason why that 
helpless class of our fellow creatures should not be permitted 
to partake of its benefits in common with the Deaf and Dumb, 
and Blind, or any other classes. It would seem a poor excuse 
to debar a fellow mortal from partaking of the light of the sun, 
because his sight is by nature dim. 

There has been placed in my hands, what purports to be a 
copy of the last will and testament of Andrew Preebody, de- 
ceased, lately of the town of Westerly, in the State of Rhode- 
Island, in which I find the following item : 

" I give and devise to Peleg Potter of Jamestown, the farm 
on which he now lives, situated in the said town of James- 



■■■« 



no 

town, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof, to 
him and his heirs, forever, in consideration of he or they pay- 
ing into the hands of the overseers of the poor of said town, 
for the time being, the sum of thirty dollars annually, to be 
in trust in the hands of the said overseers, and by them pru- 
dently applied as a surplus assistant for the comfortable sup- 
port and maintenance of all real objects of pity, not only 
those, in the alms house, or that have become chargeable to 
said town, but wherever they may be found in the said town of 
Jamestown, whom the said overseers shall deem objects of 
charity." 

Two other items of this will devise similar bequests to the 
towns of Newport and Middletown, to be likewise used as a 
surplus assistant for the use of " real objects of pity" in those 
towns. A complaint has been made to me by a citizen of the 
town of Jamestown, that in many instances this legacy has 
been diverted from the objects it was intended it should be 
applied to by the testator, and paid directly into the town 
treasury. To substantiate this charge, the complainant has 
furnished me with what purports to be copies from the town 
records of the town of Jamestown, signed by '' Edward Hull, 
Town Treasurer." These purport to be copies for receipts 
of money paid to the town treasurer of Jamestown. The first 
reads as follows — 

Jamestown, April 18th, 1838. 

By cash received of Charles H. Eldred, it being a donation 
from Andrew Freebody's will to this town for one year, $30. 

Under the date of April 17, 1839, is a similar receipt for the 
same individual and for the same sum. And under date of 
April 20th, 1841, is still another of the same tenor, for the 
same individual and sum. 

Under date of April 10th, 1842 — by cash received of An- 
drew F. Potter, the same being the yearly bequest of Andrew 
Freebody-$30. And under the several dates of April 2d, 1843, 
of April 2d, 1844, and March 31, 1845, are what purport to 
to be three other receipts for the same sum of $30 per year, 
received from Andrew F. Potter. 

I have taken some pains to investigate the affair, and find 
it admitted on all hands, by people of the town of Jamestown, 



Ill 

that the bequest of Andrew Freebodyhas been perverted from 
the true intention of the doner in several instances ; and I 
have thought it best to lay the matter thus before you, that 
you may take such measures as you may think best with re- 
gard to what has already occurred, to prevent such abuses of 
trusts in future. 

It seems to me that there is no species of property that 
should be held more sacred in the eye of the law, than bequests 
made for the use of the poor and helpless. It is cruel and un- 
manly in the last degree, to rob such of the little pittance be- 
stowed on them by a benefactor now dead and gone. Apart 
from this, the interests of the public require that trusts like 
these should be most faithfully and inviolably executed agree- 
ably to the wishes of the doner — otherwise, although the dead 
cannot take back what they have fruitlessly bestowed, the liv- 
ing testator, anticipating the same rssults, will no longer give. 
Respectfully submitted by 

THOMAS R. HAZARD, Commissioner. 

Portsmouth, R, I. \st mo. 22c?, 1851. 



APPENDIX. 



NARRAGANSETT INDIANS. 

The descendants of these former lords of our soil, in the 
progress of civilization, have become so nearly allied to pau- 
perism, that I deemed they might with propriety be named in 
this report. I therefore took the liberty to address a note of 
inquiry relative to their condition, to E. R. Potter, who from 
the proximity of his residence and official connexion with the 
tribe, I suppose might be as well qualified as any other person 
in the state, to furnish correct informaiion concerning them. 
The reply to my communication came to hand too late to in- 
corporate it in my report, before reading it to the General As*- 
sembly, but in accordance with a resolution of your body, I 
now insert it, together with accompanying documents. 

Of this once powerful tribe, I believe that there is not a pure 
blooded Indian now left in our state. I remember when young 
hearing old people relate, that they knew the last queen of 
the race — and that they sometimes visited her. On these oc- 
casions she always conversed with them through an interpre- 
ter, although she understood the English language. She ever 
refused to the last to converse in that tongue, saying that she 
would never adopt the language of the conquerers of her peo- 
ple. I have also seen the arm chair which answered for the 
throne of the last Indian chief, King Tom. This chair I 
believe is now in the possession of some family in South 
Kingstown. A house that he built and resided in, is yet 
standing in Charlestown.* Our forefathers, when driven into 
the wilderness by persecution, were kindly received and nour- 
ished by the ancestors of the Narragansett tribe. They were 
then few and weak, the Indians many and strong. The con- 
dition of their descendants is now most emphatically reversed ; 
the one has become numerous as the sands of the sea shore— 

*For many interesting incidents connected with the history of these people, I 
would refer the reader to Potter's Early History of Narragansett, and Updike's 
History of the Narragansett Church. 

16 



114 

the other few and feeble. Let us then remember the former 
kindness of their ancestors to ours, and cherish the remnant of 
the tribe that yet remains. Let us protect the little property 
they still possess, from trespass and plunder. Let us furnish 
means for the education of their children, and shield their old 
and decrepid from penury and want. It is true the aborigines 
of our whole country seem to be a doomed race — that Provi- 
dence seems to have ordained that they are eventually to be- 
come extinct. Every where they appear to be melting away 
before the progress of civilization. But whatever may be their 
destiny, I believe that it was never the will of the Almighty 
that His children should aid in their destruction. To this ef- 
fect, the annals of the Indian race perhaps aJfford a parable 
second in beauty only to those that fell from the lips of the 
Savior of Men. John Smith, the founder of Jamestown, 
was captured and condemned to death by Powhattan, chief 
of a powerful tribe of Indians in Virginia. The tomahawk 
was already raised by the executioner for the destruction of 
the prisoner — when Pocahontas, the youthful daughter of 
the Indian king, sprang between the upraised weapon and 
the object of her father's justice, and with her person shielded 
the white man from the fatal blow, until by her entreaties 
she prevailed upon her parent to spare the life of his enemy. 
Who is there that knows aught of the feelings of a father's 
heart — savage though he may be— that will not acknowledge 
that such rebellion as this is far more endearing in a child, 
than the most ready compliance with a parent's will. And 
even so although our Heavenly Father may employ the chil- 
dren of darkness and disobedience in executing His inscruta- 
ble judgments on earth, I believe that he never sends forth 
His own true children on other than missions of love. 



Kingston, Jan. 26, 1851. 

Dear Sir — In answer to your enquiry respecting the Nar- 
ragansett Indian Tribe, I would refer you to a report upon the 
subject, attached hereto, and made at the January session of 
the General Assembly, A. D. 1839. 

By the report of a committee in January A. D. 1833, it ap- 
pears that there were then one hundred and ninety-nine of the 



115 

tribe residing in Charlestown, and fifty or more supposed to be 
absent. Yery few of these were of full blood. Their tribe 
property consisted of their cedar swamp, of about 646 acres, 
Fort Neck, containing 19 acres, and Watchaug, containing 
SO acres. Besides this, individual members of the tribe own 
large tracts according to their usages, confirmed to them by 
law, and which they cannot sell except by permission of the 
Legislature. 

Many years ago a considerable portion of the Indians emi- 
grated to New- York, and joined the Brothertown Indians. 
From there many of them have since gone to the Green Bay 
settlement in Wisconsin. 

Since the temperance reform, the condition of the Indians 
in Charlestown has very much improved. Since October 
1838, the State has annually supported a school among them ; 
and since the year 1840, a commissioner has been annually 
appointed, whose services are paid by the State, to watch 
over their interests. Yery respectfully, yours, 

E. R. POTTER. 

Thomas R. Hazard. 



INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
The Committee to whom was referred the joint vote of the 
two Houses, passed June, A. D. 1836, and the several petitions 
and papers before the two Houses, relating to the affairs of 
the tribe of Narragansett Indians, report- 
That they have several times appointed a time and place, 
and notified a meeting of the committee ; but unfavorable cir- 
cumstances prevented the meeting taking place. 

The complaints made by the members of the tribe may be 
reduced to a few heads. 

First — trespasses committed upon their lands by white peo- 
ple, and the difficulty of ascertaining the title to their lands. 
The title of the tribe to the lands they hold, rests upon their 
ancient and undisputed possession, and upon an agreement 
(see Act of 1713) made with them by a Committee of the 
General Assembly, appointed October, 1708, in pursuance of 
which, the then Indian Sachem, Ninigret, by deed, March 
28th, 1709, quit claim to the colony, all Indian lands what- 
ever ; except a tract bounded as follows : — ■' Beginning where 



116 

the brook that Joseph DavilPs mills standeth, and runs into 
the great salt pond — and so from said brook, on a straight 
line notherly, to Pesquamscut pond and by the brook that runs 
out of said pond, into Paucatuck River, so along by Paucatuck 
River, westward, until it comes to Benjamin Burdick's bridge* 
and from thence southerly, towards Wequapoge, until it meets 
the grand road — and so along by said road eastward, until it 
come near to Christopher Champlin's now dwelling house ; 
and from thence south, to the great pond of salt water— and 
so along by the pond side to the first mentioned bound, as it 
is drawn out upon the draught of the vacant lands." 

The land thus reserved has been repeatedly confirmed to 
the Indians by Acts of Assembly ; and of course all of it 
now belongs to them, except what has been legally sold out 
of it. Whenever the Sachems or a Committee sold land, they 
generally sold by survey. There have generally been in ex- 
istence, laws prohibiting sales of Indian lands. But it is be- 
lieved that from August 1759, to June 1763 — -and from Au- 
gust 1763, to September 1770, there were no restrictions in 
force, and large quantities of their lands were sold. Besides, 
considerable tracts have been, at difi'erent times, sold in pur- 
suance of special Acts of the Assembly ; (see schedule, Oct., 
1768.) The records of the Assembly show that the Indians 
have been continually complaining of the encroachments of 
the white people upon them. By the report of a Committee 
made 1790, it appears that their lines were, at that time, re- 
surveyed. 

The present Act for preventing trespasses on Indian lands 
by white people, is of no effect ; as it requires actions therefor, 
to be commenced in the name of the " Treasurer of the 
tribe," and there is now no such officer. That a great deal of 
imposition is practised upon the tribe, by carrying off their 
wood, or pretending to buy it of those who have no right to 
sell it, cannot be doubted. It can only be prevented by a law 
with severe penalties. 

Another source of difficulty, is, there not being guided by 
any certain rules regulating the descent of property, and the 
right of membership of the tribe. These things have gen- 
erally been governed by custom— explained in case of doubt, 
by the authority of* their council. 



117 

The only legislative action, having reference to the right 
of membership, is contained in " an Act for regulating the 
affairs of the Narragensett tribe of Indians, in this State," 
passed February 7th, 1792 ; which regulates the right of vot- 
ing for the Council. " It is further voted and resolved— that 
all the males of said tribe, of twenty-one years of age, shall 
and may meet together at the school house, their accustomed 
place of meeting, on the last Tuesday in March, A. D. 1792> 
and annually and every year on that day, for the purpose of 
electing their Council, who shall be chosen by a majority of 
votes, and that in such meeting, and all others, and upon all 
occasions, every male person of twenty-one years, born of an 
Indian woman belonging to said tribe, or begotten by an In- 
dian man belonging thereto, of any other than a Negro wo- 
man, shall be entitled to a vote." 

At what time the Indian Council was established, does not 
appear. It was probably a notion of their own, in imitation 
of their white neighbors. It was in existence as far back as 
October, 1770. 

The Committee do not know of any Act providing for or 
regulating the appointment of a Treasurer of the tribe. In 
June, 1792, Enoch Crandall was recommended to the Assem- 
bly by the tribe for that office, and was appointed. Treas- 
urers were afterwards appointed by special Acts of the As- 
sembly, for no definite period of time — probably until they 
became too poor to need one. 

By the Act last mentioned of February 7th, 1792, a Com- 
mittee was appointed to draft rules for the regulation of the 
tribe. This Committee was increased in number and vested 
with additional powers, by resolutions passed in May and 
June, 1792 ; and in December of the same year, adopted a set 
of rules, which, together with several alterations made in 
them by subsequent Committees, we have appended hereto. 
These regulations relate principally to the making of leases, 
and support of the poor. But one of them, No. 3, introdu- 
ces among the Indians the Statute rules of descent, thus vir- 
tually doing away with any rules derived from their old cus- 
toms and usages. But since the discontinuance of the office 
of Treasurer, who acted generally as a sort of overseer of the 



118 

tribe, the council have managed these things, according to 
their own will and pleasure. 

If this regulation is now in force, and it has never 
been altered or repealed to the knowledge of this Committee, 
it will prevent the recurrence of some of the difficulties com- 
plained of — as for instance, illegitimate children claiming to 
inherit their father's land. 

It is also represented that women marry out of the tribe 
and go off; and that members of the tribe are sometimes ab- 
sent for many years, and that there are no suitable regulations 
for the management of the property of such persons. One 
of the petitions prays for an appropriation for a free school 
for the benefit of the tribe. The Assembly have already 
(Oct. 1838) made an appropriation for a school, and will prob- 
ably make permanent provision for one. 

The state of morals among the Indians, has for years been 
very low, and it has had a debasing effect upon members of 
the white people near them. The people of their neighbor- 
hood will undoubtedly rejoice to have them better educated, 
and their morals, if possible, improved — as the only way of 
correcting the evils they must otherwise suffer from, in con- 
sequence of their presence. 

The laws prohibiting suits for debts against the Indians, is 
complained of by many. There have always been laws in 
the Statute book, protecting them to a greater or less degree 
against suits. The first was probably passed in May, 1718, 
which extended to all Indians, but was partially repealed in 
1724. 

There ought undoubtedly to be a law to protect them 
against debts contracted for spirituous liquors— and if any 
person who, knowing their ignorance and propensities, fur- 
nished them with intoxicating drink, could be made liable 
for all damages, assaults, perjuries, or other crimes, the Indi- 
ans m.ight cause or commit whilst under its influence, it 
would perhaps be no more than equal justice. 

We have thus presented a state of the case, which may pro- 
bably be of use to the Assembly or some future Committee. 
In behalf of the Committee, June 3, 1839, 

E. R. POTTER. 



119 



RESOLUTION for printing and distributing the report of 
the Commissioner on the number and condition of the 
paupers and insane persons in this State. 
Resolved, That the report of Thomas R. Hazard, the Com- 
missioner appointed by the Governor, to make inquiry and 
report, in relation to the number and condition of the pau- 
pers and insane persons in this State, be received, and that 
five thousand copies thereof be printed, under the direction 
of said Commissioner, to be classed and distributed as fol- 
lows, to wit : one thousand of said copies to be bound ; two 
hundred of them for the Commissioner, one for each member 
of this Assembly, one for each public Library, two for each 
Library in Brown University, and the residue of the bound 
copies to be deposited in the Secretary's office. The residue 
of said five thousand copies to be in pamphlet form ; three 
hundred copies thereof for the Commissioner, and the re- 
mainder to be distributed to the members of this Assembly 
for the use of their constituents. And said Commissioner 
shall have leave to append to his report a statement of the 
condition of the Indian tribe, and to amend said report in 
any case where he may find it to be erroneous. 
True copy — Witness, 

CHRIS. E. ROBBINS, Sec'y, 



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